ZI Khan Panna steps down as Hasina’s lawyer in two cases

Supreme Court lawyer ZI Khan Panna has announced he will not represent ousted dictator Sheikh Hasina in two cases over enforced disappearances, three days after the International Crimes Tribunal-1 appointed him as the fugitive’s lawyer.

ZI Khan Panna is yet to receive an official appointment letter, and will formally express his rejection only after getting the letter, the lawyer said in a facebook live video message.

He admitted he had approached ICT-1 earlier to get the chance to defend Hasina. However, now he has changed his mind upon learning that the Awami League chief does not have faith in the current Tribunal, he added.

He, however, would represent Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul in corruption cases. He would also press arguments in favour of his friend and BNP leader Advocate Fazlur Rahman in a recent case filed against him, ZI Khan Panna added in the video message.

On 23 November, an ICT-1 panel, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mazumder, appointed ZI Khan Panna as the state-appointed lawyer for Hasina following his earlier request in this regard.

On the day, ICT-1 also set 3 December for framing charges in two cases of enforced disappearances against Hasina and 29 others.