SC Orders Reinstatement of Jamaat’s Registration

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has ordered the reinstatement of Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration as a political party, directing the Election Commission to implement the order without delay. A four-member Appellate Division bench, headed by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, delivered the verdict on Sunday, overturning a previous High Court ruling that had declared the party’s registration invalid.

Regarding the party’s electoral symbol ‘scale’, the Appellate Division observed that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission. On August 1, 2013, the High Court declared Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration with the Election Commission illegal, following a writ petition. The Election Commission subsequently cancelled the party’s registration through a notification issued on December 7, 2018. Jamaat-e-Islami later appealed the High Court's decision.

However, in November 2023, a six-member bench led by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan dismissed the appeal "for default" due to the absence of the party's chief counsel during the hearing. This effectively upheld the High Court’s earlier verdict. Jamaat-e-Islami then filed a plea on September 1, 2023, seeking to revive the dismissed appeal. On October 22, the Appellate Division accepted the plea, allowing the party to continue its legal battle for registration.