DHAKA: The National Assembly on Monday passed a resolution against hanging of Jamaat-i-Islami Bangladesh leader Abdul Quader Mollah for his ‘loyalty’ with Pakistan during the events of 1971.

The resolution moved by JI’s Sher Akbar Khan on the anniversary of the fall of Dhaka also expressed condolence with family members of Mollah and demanded the BD government not to resurrect the issues of 1971 and end all cases against leaders of JI Bangladesh through the spirit of understanding.

The resolution endorsed by all other political parties was however opposed by the PPP and the MQM who said that it was tantamount to intervening into the internal affairs of Bangladesh as the decision was taken by the apex court of the country.

Earlier, the three major political parties in the National Assembly –PML-N, PTI and PPP– agreed to introduce biometric system in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh during the local government elections.

The National Assembly was also informed that a Land Port Authority is to be established to provide better facilities to importers and exporters through land routes of the country.

The resolution about hanging of Bangladeshi leader said, “This House expresses serious concern over the execution of 65 year old JI leader Mollah by the Bangladeshi government only for siding with Pakistan in 1971 and condoles with JI Bangladesh and the family of the deceased…This House demands from the government of Bangladesh not to give new life to matters of 1971 and close all the cases against the leadership of JI in Bangladesh.”

Before adopting the resolution, Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan described the capital punishment to Mollah as “judicial murder”. He regretted that a person was hanged who remained associated with the cause of united Pakistan till the fall of Dhaka. He said that after 42 years to those events, there should be a general pardon for all as excesses were committed from both sides.

Abdul Sattar Bachani of the PPP said the issue pertains to an independent and sovereign country and “we should not interfere in the internal affairs of Bangladesh”. MQM also did not sign the resolution saying that it had not received the text of the resolution. Abdul Waseem of the party said the people of Bangladesh were victimised and the findings of Report of the Hamoodur Rehman Commission should be implemented. “We should learn lessons and avoid national tragedies in future,” he added.

Raza Hayat Hiraj of PML-Q criticised PPP for opposing the resolution about a person who remained with Pakistan. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also tried to persuade the PPP and MQM to support the resolution. Makhdoom Javed Hashmi of PTI‚ Awami League leader Sheikh Rashid Ahmad‚ Raza Hayat Hiraj of the PML-Q and Maulana Ameer Zaman of the JUI-F said the JI leader (Molla) was eliminated because of his loyalty to Pakistan.

Imran Khan said lawyer of an international human rights organisation Reprieve‚ which was defending the case of Abdul Quader Molla‚ told him that the JI leader was innocent and had nothing to do with the charges against him. He said the fall of Dhaka gives us a lesson that issues should be handled democratically and not through military operations.

Earlier, ruling PML-N and opposition PTI both agreed to introduce biometric system in Punjab and KPK to hold LG polls after exchange of some harsh words from both sides. A voice from PPP also came that the same would also be introduced in Sindh. Ch Nisar agreed to introduce biometric system in Punjab ostensibly to persuade PTI chief Imran Khan to withdraw his case seeking thumb verification in four NA constituencies.

BDST: 1520 HRS, DEC 17, 2013
RS/MMA/