Nizami death penalty: Stop interfering, Bangladesh tells Pakistan
Bangladesh asked Pakistan on Sunday to refrain from interfering in its internal affairs, two days after it expressed “deep concern” over the death penalty given to fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami chief for war crimes.
Bangladesh asked Pakistan on Sunday to refrain from interfering in its internal affairs, two days after it expressed “deep concern” over the death penalty given to fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami chief for war crimes committed during the 1971 Liberation War.
“We are disappointed with Pakistan’s reaction. We never welcome anyone interfering in our internal issues,” junior foreign minister Shahriar Alam said.
“Despite repeated reminders, they are still doing it. They keep saying they are saddened by the verdict. But those being tried are Bangladeshi citizens after all,” Alam said.
The reaction came after Pakistan’s foreign ministry on May 6 expressed “deep concern” over the dismissal of Jamaat chief, Motiur Rahman Nizami’s final review petition against his death sentence by the Supreme Court.
Nizami, 72, has been convicted of murder, rape and orchestrating the killing of intellectuals during the 1971 Independence War. He was given capital punishment in October 2014 after being convicted of “superior responsibility” as the chief of the infamous al Badr militia forces in 1971.
“I find this a serious issue, as these war criminals are trying to assure their future generation with the notion that Pakistan as a state will be by their sides. Otherwise, why would Pakistan be so saddened by Nizami’s death penalty,” Alam asked.
He asked Pakistan “to stop misinterpreting” the 1974 tripartite agreement signed by Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.