Mujahid to file review petition
Death-row war crimes convict and Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid will file a review petition against the Supreme Court (SC) verdict that upheld his death penalty in connection with wartime offences.
He (Mujahid) has instructed us to file a review petition. The review petition will be filed on behalf of Mujahid by October 15, in accordance with his instructions, advocate Shishir Manir, one of the counsel for Mujahid, told reporters at the prison gate of Dhaka Central Jail yesterday morning.
Five lawyersShishir Manir, Nazrul Islam, Moshiul Alam, Motiur Rahman Akand and Gazi Tamimmet Mujahid at Dhaka Central Jail around 10.30am and came out around 11.40am. Shishir Manir informed reporters that his client was physically and mentally well.
Mujahid hoped that he would be acquitted in the review as he was not involved in any crimes against humanity in 1971, Shishir Manir said.
In a verdict on July 17, 2013, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) awarded him the death penalty for killing intellectuals during the Liberation War.
Later, he moved the Appellate Division against the verdict, but the apex court, on June 16, upheld the tribunal verdict awarding the death penalty.
Shishir Manir said his client thought that the prosecution could not bring any specific allegation related to the killing of any intellectual in 1971 against him. A total of 42 cases was filed in 1972 for the killing of intellectuals in 1971, but he was not an accused in any of the cases, Shishir Manir said.
The lawyers said a three-member inquiry commission has been formed, headed by well-known filmmaker Jahir Raihan, to conduct a probe into the killing of intellectuals. Two other members are Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam and Barrister Moudud Ahmed.
