Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed on Wednesday said although the war crimes trial was initiated after 42 years, the judgment against Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid has fulfilled people’s expectations.
He came up with the reaction while talking to reporters at his office.
The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Wednesday handed down capital punishment to Mujahid for committing crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
The minister said the trial was done maintaining transparency and international standards. “The tribunal is functioning independently. The government has not interfered in the trial of the war criminals.”
Replying to a query about the future of the trial if a new government comes to power, he said “It’s the responsibility of all the governments to continue the trial. If the trial is impeded during the tenure of the next government, we must say that government does not believe in the rule of law and justice to the victims.”
When asked about the option of President’s clemency for the war crimes convicts, Shafique said, “We don’t think the President will pardon them taking into consideration everything.”
Source: UNB Connect
