Pakistan perturbed by Bangladesh executions
* Islamabad stresses need for reconciliation in accordance with the spirit of Bangladesh-India-Pakistan agreement of April 9, 1974

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is deeply disturbed by the executions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader and Jamaat-e-Islami secretary-general, who were both charged with 1971 war crimes, the Foreign Office said on Sunday.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary-General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid were ‘hanged together, at the same time’ at 12:55 am (local time) at Dhaka Central Jail in the nation’s capital, Senior Jail Superintendent Jahangir Kabir said.

Chowdhury had been convicted on of charges of torture, rape and genocide during the 1971 war, while Mujahid was found guilty on charges of genocide, conspiracy in killing intellectuals, torture and abduction.

“We have noted with deep concern and anguish the unfortunate executions of the Bangladesh National Party Leader, Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mujahid,” Foreign Office Spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said in a statement.

The spokesman said Pakistan also took notice of the international community’s reaction to the flawed trials in Bangladesh related to the events of 1971.

Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party say the trials were politically motivated. Bangaldeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has denied the allegations, but acknowledged that she faced international pressure for trying opposition figures for war crimes.

Human Rights Watch said the tribunal allowed the prosecution to call 41 witnesses, while Chowdhury’s defense was limited to four witnesses. The New York-based group said Mujahid was sentenced to death for instigating his subordinates to commit abuses, although no subordinates testified or were identified.

Khalilullah said there is a need for reconciliation in Bangladesh in accordance with the spirit of the Bangladesh-India-Pakistan agreement of April 9, 1974, which he said calls for a forward-looking approach in matters relating to 1971.

The spokesman addressed hope that such an action would foster goodwill and harmony.

Minister for Interior Nisar Ali Khan, meanwhile, said that people of Pakistan and Bangladesh wanted to promote brotherly relations and move forward by forgetting bitterness of the past.

But, a group in Bangladesh could not see atmosphere of brotherhood between people of the two countries, he said in a statement.

“We have the idea that who is behind that group, and it played what role in the incidents of 1970-71,” he added.

Pakistan, the minister said, was very much in the know that which forces were stopping people of the two countries from getting closer to each other. Being a Pakistani, he said, he had the feelings that whatever was happening in Bangladesh, it was in violation of international laws.

He expressed astonishment that why the world especially international human rights organizations were silent over the ‘murder of justice’.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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