Law Minister Anisul Huq today said that Khaleda Zia has no option to go abroad for treatment except Presidential pardon.

“Khaleda Zia may seek pardon to the President admitting her guilt for going abroad for treatment,” the law minister told a press conference at his secretariat office.  

“The Prime Minister has exercised her executive power. There is no opportunity to exercise her power again,” the law minister said adding that there is only option for her to seek pardon from the President.

“It is a constitutional right of a person to seek mercy to the President. If Khaleda Zia wants she can appeal to the President for pardon and suspension of sentence,” the minister said.

Ruling out the statement of Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir the law minister said he never told that the government has no authority to suspend anyone’s jail term.

The law minister urged the BNP Secretary General to tell the truth and rely on objective information.

Anisul said Khaleda Zia’s travel abroad for treatment is not political matter rather a legal one. The law does not allow her to go abroad for treatment. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina applied her authority under section 401 (1) of the code of criminal procedure granting Khaleda Zia conditional release which barred her from going abroad, the minister said.

The law minister said during 1/11 caretaker government Sheikh Hasina went abroad for treatment with bail from the court, not under any condition from the government.

Dhaka South City Mayor Barrister Fazle Noor Taposh and Law and Justice Division Secretary Md Golam Sarwar were present.