The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The Supreme Court apparently changed its tune from its much-talked-about 'routine stay' on High Court interim orders on graft cases, disappointing the government and the Anti-Corruption Commission seeking leave to appeal.

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division chaired by Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin yesterday disposed of a pack of three score applications filed by the government and the ACC, asking them to resolve the pending rules back at the High Court.

Denying issuance of any stay order on the HC interim orders, the apex court said those petitions in the meantime have been disposed of by the High Court and therefore are dismissed.

It further said "any stay granted earlier by the Supreme Court would continue", thereby clearing the way for the proceedings of the graft cases against the suspected corrupt.

The Appellate Division in its orders put on hold six government and ACC applications and one application of business-tycoon Salman F Rahman for hearing on different dates.

Today's SC orders disposed of 30 High Court rules on bigwig suspected corrupt and cleared the way for 15 graft cases' proceedings, court sources said.

According to SC orders, among others, the rule hearings on Gatco scam case against ex-PM and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and her son Arafat Rahman Koko, BNP leader Tarique Rahman's two extortion cases and one ill-gotten wealth case and Dhaka City Corporation Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka's ill-gotten wealth case should be resolved in the High Court.