BLAST expresses concern over accusing ZI Khan Panna in attempted murder case
In a statement today, the legal aid organisation demanded that his name be withdrawn from the case immediately
The Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) expressed concern over accusing Supreme Court senior lawyer ZI Khan Panna in a case filed over an attempted murder during the recent student-led mass uprising.
In a statement today (20 October), the legal aid organisation demanded that his name be withdrawn from the case immediately and an inquiry be launched on why he was named in the case.
The case was filed with Khilgaon Police Station on 17 October, accusing 180 people, including Advocate ZI Khan, also a member of BLAST's board of trustees.
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"Advocate ZI Khan has always taken a vocal and strong stand against discrimination. He relentlessly fought legal battles in court on behalf of the students and masses who suffered in the student movement," BLAST said in the statement.
"He was also a lawyer in the writ case filed by Advocate Manzoor Al Mateen and Advocate Ainun Nahar during the student movement, and he was harassed and insulted in the courtroom by the then state counsel calling him a traitor for his role," it added.
The organisation stated that such "harassing" cases will essentially obstruct justice for the real victims of the July-August student movement.
Urging the swift withdrawal of Advocate ZI Khan's name from the "baseless" case, BLAST called for urgent high-level initiatives to ensure justice for the July massacre, to provide immediate legal assistance to those injured and families of the martyred, and to put an end to harassment.
