Dhaka: A leave-to-appeal petition was filed on Monday with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the High Court verdict that extended the jail term of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case to 10 years from five years.

Joynul AbedinTuhin, advocate on record, filed the petition on with the wing concerned, reports the UNB.

Khaleda’s lawyer Barrister Nawshad Jamir said as they are yet to get certified copy of the verdict in the case, they filed the CMP (Criminal Miscellaneous Petition), also known as provisional leave-to-appeal petition.

Earlier on October 30, the HC extended the jail term of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

On February 8, the Dhaka Special Court-5 convicted the former Prime Minister and BNP chairperson and sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment and five other accused in the case, including her son and BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman, to 10 years’ imprisonment each.

The ACC filed a revision appeal seeking her sentence to be extended to life imprisonment.

On Sunday, Khaleda Zia filed an appeal with the High Court (HC) challenging her conviction by a trial court in the much-talked-about Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.

On October 29, a Special Court-5 pronounced the verdict sentencing her to seven years’ imprisonment in her absence when she was undergoing treatment at Bangbandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) under a special medical board formed by the government.

Meanwhile, the High Court asked the authorities concerned to provide proper treatment to the former Prime Minister, if necessary, as per the recommendations of the medical board formed for her treatment.

The court passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed challenging the government’s decision to send the BNP chief back to jail from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital (BSMMU) and seeking her re-admission.

Additional Attorney General Murad Reza said it is clear following the HC order that whenever Khaleda needs medical treatment, the jail authorities will send her to the BSMMU as per the recommendations of the medical board.

On October 6, Khaleda Zia was admitted to the BSMMU for her better treatment in response to a court order.

Later, on November 8, she was discharged from the BSMMU upon approval from the medical board formed for her treatment and produced before a makeshift court at old Central Jail in Niko graft case.

Khaleda Zia has been in the erstwhile Dhaka Central Jail at Nazimuddin Road since she was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8.

On Sunday, Khaleda Zia filed an appeal with the High Court (HC) challenging her conviction by a trial court in the much-talked-about Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.