The lawyer of Abdul Quader Molla has expressed dissatisfaction over the dismissal of Jamaat-e-Islami leader’s petition to review his death sentence by the Chief Justice-led Appellate Division bench.
One of Molla’s lawyers, Khandker Mahbub Hossain, told reporters on Thursday that the court held a long hearing on the review plea.
“The court has rejected our plea,” he said. “We did not get justice.”
Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Molla was given a life sentence on Feb 5 this year on war crimes charges. But the Appellate Division later raised the penalty to a death sentence on Sept 17 following an appeal from the prosecution.
All preparations to hang the war criminal were made on Tuesday night, but last minute efforts by his lawyers ensured a stay on the execution.
The Bench heard the plea on Wednesday and resumed the hearing again on Thursday morning before finally quashing the petition to review the death verdict.
Khandker Mahbub, also an adviser to the Opposition Leader, said: “We believe justice has not been served.”
“We do not know why the plea has been rejected. It won’t be clear until we get the copy of the full verdict,” he said.
Chief defence counsel Abdur Razzaq claimed Molla’s death sentence execution would have to be put on hold until a full copy of Thursday’s order is published.
However, the Attorney General dismissed the contention.
“The court has dismissed two of their review petitions. So, there’s no need for the copy of the full verdict,” Mahbubey Alam said adding that there was no need to send the Appellate ruling to the jail authorities, who could now “execute (the ruling) if they want”.
Source: Bd news24
