Dhaka, June 1 -- The Appellate Division on Sunday directed the Election Commission (EC) to restore Jamaat-e-Islami's registration, overturning a previous High Court (HC) verdict that had declared the party's registration illegal.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, passed the order.

In its observation, the court noted that it would be up to the EC to decide whether Jamaat can contest elections using the 'Scale' symbol.

The verdict came days after Jamaat's senior leader, ATM Azharul Islam, previously sentenced to death for crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War, was released following a Supreme Court judgment.

Jamaat's counsel, Mohammad Shishir Manir, ex...