DHAKA: Death row convict war criminal Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami’s lawyer Khandakar Mahbub Hossain categorically said “Nizami does not have a clean sheet in relation to war crimes committed during liberation war in 1971”.

Mahbub, also BNP standing committee member, came up with the assertions during cross examination at the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday.

The proceedings of appeal hearing ended on the 11th day.

The Appellate Division bench, led by the Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha has fixed January 6 as the day to pronounce the verdict.

The other members of the bench are, Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana, Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain and Justice Hasan Foyez Siddiqui. 

Khandakar Mahbub said, “Activities of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders were reported in the then Bangla daily ‘Sangram’ in 1971”.

Defending Nizami, Khandakar Mahbub said, “Jamaat has collaborated with Pakistan to save the unity of the country during 1971. Following his political beliefs, Nizami also had supported the unity of Pakistan. He, obviously, is not clean as whistle”.

He further argued, “What happened then were committed by the principal accused (Pakistanis). Nizami was a 20-year old youth. Why would Pakistan Army listen to him?”

Earlier on December 2, Mahbub acknowledged about the atrocious bloodshed in 1971 but claimed that his client was not involved in felony.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam considered this as a confession of Nizami’s guilt.

BDST: 1553 HRS, DEC 08, 2015
SR/RR/SMS