HC issues rule seeking disclosure of presidential pardons in last 33 years

The High Court (HC) has issued a rule asking why a directive should not be given to disclose the list of individuals whose sentences were pardoned by the Presidents in office over the past 33 years.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque and Justice Aynun Nahar Siddiqua issued the rule on Monday (April 21) following a hearing on a writ petition.

Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Omar Faruk appeared for the petitioner during the hearing.

Earlier, Omar Faruk had served a legal notice seeking information on the number of individuals whose sentences were suspended or pardoned by the president under Article 49 of the Constitution from 1991 to July 31 of this year.

The notice was sent to the cabinet secretary, the home secretary, and the secretary of the Public Division of the President’s Office.

It requested the list be disclosed within 15 days and raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the exercise of presidential clemency powers.