Dhaka: The High Court on Wednesday deferred till August 23 the pronouncement of its verdict on a writ petition challenging the legality of parliament membership of Nizam Uddin Hazari of Feni-2 constituency.

An HC bench of Justice Md Emdadul Haque and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir fixed the fresh date and asked the authorities concerned to submit the documents about Nizam Uddin Hazari’s jail term, reports UNB.

On August 3, the same bench of the HC set August 17 for pronouncing its verdict on the writ petition.

Earlier, the HC bench sought the details of jail term served by the ruling party MP in an arms case. As the prosecution did not provide any document in this regard, the court deferred the hearing.

In 2014, the writ petition was filed with the HC attaching a newspaper report of May 10, 2014 stating that Nizam Uddin Hazari was awarded 10 years’ imprisonment in an arms case, but he was freed from jail two years and 10 months before the jail term completed.

Besides, the HC on June 8, 2014, issued a rule asking the government, the Election Commission and Nizam Uddin Hazari to explain within four weeks under what authority the MP claims to hold the public office concealing information about his early release from jail in the arms case.

As two HC benches expressed their embarrassment to hear the rule, the Chief Justice had sent it to the HC bench, headed by Justice Md Emdadul Haque. The HC bench started the hearing on the rule on January 19 last.

On May 26, the HC asked the jail authorities to inform it the details of jail term served by the ruling party MP. The jail authorities submitted its report in this connection on July 19.

According to the report, out of the 10-year jail term, he served five years, eight months and 19 days.

Including a 625-day exemption, the total jail term Nizam Uddin Hazari served stands at seven years, five months and 14 days, which means the MP is yet to undergo two years, six months and 16 days of jail term.