Dhaka on Tuesday strongly protested the resolution adopted by Pakistan National Assembly (NA) expressing its concern over war criminal Abdul Quader Mollah’s execution reminding them that the matter is absolutely Bangladesh’s internal affair. Pakistan High Commissioner Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in the afternoon and was apprised of Dhaka’s position over the resolution adopted in the Pakistan NA, Punjab Provincial Assembly and the remarks made by a senior Cabinet Minister of Pakistan government on the verdict of the war crimes tribunals in Bangladesh. Secretary (bilateral, consular and training) Ambassador Mustafa Kamal had a meeting at his office with the Pakistan High Commissioner for about half an hour from 5.26pm and stated Bangladesh’s position on the move by the Pakistan National Assembly. Briefing reporters about Bangladesh’s position, Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali said Islamabad was conveyed of Dhaka’s protest ‘in strong language’. Noting that the trial and execution of the crimes conducted against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh is completely an internal issue of the country, he said, “It was not right for them (Pakistan NA) to interfere in it.” “Bangladesh has now reached such a stage that it is not afraid of anyone,” added the Foreign Minister. Responding to a question on Bangladesh’s position regarding concerns raised by the United Nations and the European Union (EU) over the execution, Mahmud Ali said, “That is different issue.” He said there is no relation between their (EU, UN) positions and the issue of Pakistan. “We’re conveying our position to everyone in the world.” Referring to those who are shouting against the death penalty of the war criminals in the name of protecting human rights, the Foreign Minister questioned where their humanity were when Pakistanis had carried out genocide against Bangladeshi people. In his meeting with Pakistan High Commissioner, Mustafa Kamal referred to the campaign of genocide launched against the peaceful and the innocent people of Bangladesh by the Pakistan Army and its cohorts which consisted of convicted war criminals like Abdul Quader Mollah on the midnight of 25 March 1971 and the reign of terror unleashed in the subsequent months. He said the establishment of the war crimes tribunal was Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s commitment as reflected in the 2008 election manifesto. “The war crimes trials are not being conducted with any specific intention to rake up the memories of 1971 as misconstrued by some quarters in Pakistan but to put a legal closure to the injustice and pain suffered by the victims’ families and the Bengali nation as a whole, he said,” he said. Mustafa Kamal also said that this has been the longstanding demand and aspiration of the people of Bangladesh. He conveyed in unequivocal terms that the war crimes trial in Bangladesh is an internal matter, and as such the uncalled for resolutions on the verdicts of the war crimes trial tantamount to interference in the domestic affairs of Bangladesh. Kamal conveyed Bangladesh’s strong protest on the Pakistan government’s reaction to the verdicts by the International Crimes Tribunal. He also handed over an Aide Memoire to the High Commissioner of Pakistan. The National Assembly (NA), Pakistan on Monday adopted a resolution expressing concern over hanging of war criminal and Bangladesh Jamaat-i-Islami leader Abdul Quader Mollah for ‘his loyalty with Pakistan’ during the events of 1971. The resolution moved by Sher Akbar Khan also expressed condolences with Bangladesh and family members of Abdul Quader Mollah. Earlier, Pakistan severely criticised Bangladesh for executing war criminal and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general Abdul Quader Mollah, but recognised that Mollah remained supporter of a united Pakistan till the very end before the creation of Bangladesh. “It would have been better if the Bangladeshi government had shown farsightedness, bigheartedness and magnanimity instead of opening old wounds,” said Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in a statement on Friday. Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader Abdul Quader Mollah was innocent and charges against him were false.. He said that a lawyer of the international human rights organisation Reprieve, who was defending Mollah, told him that the JI leader was innocent and had nothing to do with the charges against him. – UNB
Bdnews24.com adds: The ‘Ganajagaran Mancha has announced decision to march towards the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka on Wednesday in protest at Islamabad’s ‘interfering’ in the execution of war crimes convict Abdul Quader Molla.
Tuesday’s announcement came after Bangladesh strongly protested Pakistan National Assembly’s adopting a resolution expressing concern over the Jamaat-e-Islami leader’s execution.
Manch spokesperson Imran H Sarker said they would march down the streets in a procession from Gulshan-2 circle at around 3pm.
Jamaat leader Molla was hanged on Dec 12.
“Family members of the martyred freedom fighters and the women tortured by Pakistani army and its local collaborators will lead the march,” Sarker told bdnews24.com.
Jamaat’s Pakistan wing took to the streets protesting against Molla’s execution. On its Facebok page, it called Molla a ‘martyr’.
On Monday, the Pakistan national and provincial assemblies adopted resolutions expressing concern over Molla’s hanging.
Bangladesh won independence from Pakistan in 1971 after nine months of bloody war. Molla’s party, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, had sided with Pakistan during the war. The party’s War-time role is being probed.
Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami had moved the resolution. It said Molla was hanged because “he was loyal to Pakistan and supported Pakistan army during the 1971 war”.
Pakistan interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in a statement had said Molla had remained a “supporter of a united Pakistan”.
Bangladesh’s Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu on Tuesday morning had said the government would formally react on the matter.
Senior Awami League leader Suranjit Sengupta had urged the government to protest Pakistan’s move and inform the world about the war crimes trials.
The foreign ministry summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Mian Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi Qureshi on Tuesday evening and “strongly protested” Islamabad’s move.
The Ganajagaran Manch came into being after Molla was sentenced to life on Feb 5 this year on war crimes charges. The protesters had since been pressing for maximum penalty for war criminals.
