Dhaka:

Bangladesh’s caretaker government revoked a ban on the country’s main Islamic party and its affiliated groups on Wednesday, saying it has not found evidence of their involvement in “terrorist activities”.

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government had banned the Jamaat-e-Islami party under an anti-terrorism law, blaming it for stoking deadly violence during student-led protests that turned into an uprising against Hasina, forcing her to resign and flee to India on Aug. 5.

A gazette notification on Wednesday by the caretaker government that replaced Hasina’s administration said there was “no specific evidence of involvement of Jamaat” and its affiliates “in terrorist activities”.

The party has denied allegations that it stoked violence and had condemned the ban as “illegal, extrajudicial and unconstitutional.”

Jamaat has not been able to contest elections in Bangladesh after a court said in 2013 its registration as a political party conflicted with Bangladesh’s secular constitution.

Shishir Monir, a lawyer for the party, said it will file a petition early next week at the Supreme Court to seek restoration of its registration.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Supporters of the Pakistani religious group “Jamaat-e-Islami” sit during a protest in the city of Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Saturday, July 27, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Pakistan’s rightwing Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Saturday vowed to continue its protest in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi as the party’s sit-in entered the second day to press the government to reduce electricity price and taxes on the salaried class.

The party for the second day on Saturday held the protest to hold a rally at the D-Chowk in Islamabad.

The JI drive was, however, stopped by police. The party later changed its plan and announced holding a sit-in at three places, including Murree Road and Chungi No 22 in Rawalpindi and H-8 Bridge Islamabad.

JI chief Hafiz Naeem addressed the participants camping on the Murree Road, the main artery of the garrison city connecting it with Islamabad, and vowed to continue the sit-in till the demands were accepted.

“Our demands are simple and we want the government to give relief to the masses,” he said, adding that the party was aware of difficulties but was sure that the issue of power tariffs could be addressed.

He said the protest would continue until its key demands were met, elaborating that renegotiations be held with the Independent Power Producers (IPPs), a group of power companies considered the main cause of the exorbitant rise in the electricity bills.

Mr. Naeem also expressed willingness to talk with the government if the latter showed seriousness in addressing the issues highlighted by the JI. He said the government should first set up the committee for talks.

He also announced to address a big gathering on Murree Road on Sunday evening and asked people from every walk of life to attend as his party has been fighting for their rights.

The JI is one of the oldest parties in the country and is also known for holding big protests. The protestors have been so far peaceful but Mr. Naeem alleged that dozens of party workers had been arrested and demanded their immediate release. PTI SH PY Separately, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters also held demonstrations across the country where hundreds of workers were arrested on Friday, protesting the inflated electricity bills and demanding the release of former prime minister Imran Khan from jail.

The main opposition party, PTI, could not hold its much-publicised protest in the national capital after the government banned public gatherings. However, its ally, JI went ahead by defying the ban and claimed that police arrested several workers.

In Lahore, more than 150 workers of both parties were arrested by law enforcement agencies of the Punjab province.