Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration, electoral symbol restored after SC order

The Election Commission (EC) has reinstated the registration of the Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party alongside its electoral symbol, the "weighing scales", following a Supreme Court order.

On Tuesday, EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said an official gazette has been issued over this.

“The registration and symbol of Jamaat-e-Islami have been reinstated through a notification,” he said.

Three weeks after the EC took an in-principle decision to restore Jamaat’s status, it brought the decision into effect.

The move comes after the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Jun 1 overturned a previous High Court verdict that had cancelled Jamaat’s registration over a decade ago, during the tenure of the Awami League government.

The top court said it was now up to the EC, as a constitutional body, to decide on the party’s registration and electoral symbol.

Following the verdict, the EC in a meeting held on Jun 4 -- just before the Eid-ul-Azha holidays -- decided in principle to restore Jamaat’s registration and symbol.