Will defend Sheikh Hasina if opportunity presents: ZI Khan Panna

Supreme Court lawyer Advocate ZI Khan Panna yesterday expressed his willingness to defend ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) regarding cases filed with allegations of genocide during the mass uprising.
In response to a journalist’s question about whether he would provide legal support to anyone in the ICT, the senior lawyer said during a press briefing about the suspension of bail for former Additional Attorney General Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury, “I would fight for Sheikh Hasina if I get such an opportunity.”
He also mentioned that the number of cases being collectively filed has increased compared to any previous time.
When contacted, Panna told the same to The Daily Star.
When asked if his previous stance on the Hasina regime’s human rights violations and crimes contradicts his current willingness to defend Hasina, he said, “Of course, it is contradictory, but I believe every accused has the right to get legal support. From this humane consideration, I expressed my willingness to legally defend her.”
“I also believe that the provision of death penalty should be repealed for any sort of offence,” he added.
Earlier in the day, the Appellate Division had suspended the High Court’s bail order for former Additional Attorney General Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury in a case filed with allegations of murder related to incidents in July and August.

The order was issued by the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed.
Lawyer ZI Khan Panna represented the accused while Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman and Additional Attorney General Barrister Aneek R Haque represented the state.