Mujahid, SQ Chy file review petitions

Death-row convicts - Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid and BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury - yesterday filed separate review petitions with the Supreme Court for reconsideration of its verdict upholding their death penalty in connection with war-time offences.
Advocate Shishir Manir, counsel for Ali, yesterday morning submitted the 38-page review petition before the Supreme Court containing 32 grounds for reconsideration. Thereafter, Hujjatul Islam Khan Alfesani, Salauddin’s lawyer, filed a similar 108-page petition before the SC containing 10 grounds for reconsideration.
Later, Principal Counsel for both convicts, Advocate Khandakar Mahbub Hossain, at a press briefing said that the apex court would release Ali and Salauddin if it considered their review petitions properly.
Regarding Ali’s petition, Khandakar said that they had annexed fresh evidence in the review showing that Al-Badr force was operated and led by Pakistan military and thus, Ali was not its commander. Khandakar said Ali was not involved in any incidents of killing, arson or disappearance during the War of Liberation, which was clear from the prosecution witnesses’ statements. However, the tribunal and the apex court awarded death penalty to Ali as a commander of the auxiliary force, Al-Badr. During the Liberation War, Ali was a student aged only 23. How could a 23-year-old student be made commander of the auxiliary force? Besides, the investigation officer of war crimes cases had confessed that Ali’s name was not found in any of the auxiliary forces - Al-Badr, Razakar or Al-Shams. Even Ali’s name was not included in the list of Al-Badr and collaborator forces in the report submitted by the investigation officer before the court; said Khandakar.
About Salauddin’s review petition, Khandakar said Salauddin was a student of Punjab University during the Liberation War and was not present in the country at that time. He said they had submitted all documents before the apex court but it did not accept them, citing technical grounds.
“I hope the apex court will consider our prayer mentioned in the review petitions,” said Khandakar.
On the other hand, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam hoped that Ali and Salauddin’s death sentences would be upheld in the review by SC.
Speaking at a press briefing, he said his office would file an application before the chamber judge of the Supreme Court on Tuesday, praying for an early hearing of the review petition.
On July 17, 2013, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) had sentenced Ali to death 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's verdict of death penalty.
On July 29, the apex court upheld the verdict of the then International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) that condemned Salauddin to death for committing crimes against humanity, including rape and mass killing, during the Liberation War, 43 years ago. On October 1, 2013, the then ICT-1 found Salauddin guilty of crimes against humanity during the Liberation War and condemned him to death. On October 29 the same year, Salauddin filed an appeal with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court against the ICT-1 verdict.

 

Mujahid, SQ Chy file review petitions

Death-row convicts - Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid and BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury - yesterday filed separate review petitions with the Supreme Court for reconsideration of its verdict upholding their death penalty in connection with war-time offences. Advocate Shishir Manir, counsel for Ali, yesterday morning submitted the 38-page review petition before the Supreme Court containing 32 grounds for reconsideration. Thereafter, Hujjatul Islam Khan Alfesani, Salauddins lawyer, filed a similar 108-page petition before the SC containing 10 grounds for reconsideration. Later, Principal Counsel for both convicts, Advocate Khandakar Mahbub Hossain, at a press briefing said that the apex court would release Ali and Salauddin if it considered their review petitions properly. Regarding Alis petition, Khandakar said that they had annexed fresh evidence in the review showing that Al-Badr force was operated and led by Pakistan military and thus, Ali was not its commander. Khandakar said Ali was not involved in any incidents of killing, arson or disappearance during the War of Liberation, which was clear from the prosecution witnesses statements. However, the tribunal and the apex court awarded death penalty to Ali as a commander of the auxiliary force, Al-Badr. During the Liberation War, Ali was a student aged only 23. How could a 23-year-old student be made commander of the auxiliary force? Besides, the investigation officer of war crimes cases had confessed that Alis name was not found in any of the auxiliary forces - Al-Badr, Razakar or Al-Shams. Even Alis name was not included in the list of Al-Badr and collaborator forces in the report submitted by the investigation officer before the court; said Khandakar. About Salauddins review petition, Khandakar said Salauddin was a student of Punjab University during the Liberation War and was not present in the country at that time. He said they had submitted all documents before the apex court but it did not accept them, citing technical grounds. I hope the apex court will consider our prayer mentioned in the review petitions, said Khandakar. On the other hand, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam hoped that Ali and Salauddins death sentences would be upheld in the review by SC. Speaking at a press briefing, he said his office would file an application before the chamber judge of the Supreme Court on Tuesday, praying for an early hearing of the review petition. On July 17, 2013, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) had sentenced Ali to death 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 tribunals verdict of death penalty. On July 29, the apex court upheld the verdict of the then International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) that condemned Salauddin to death for committing crimes against humanity, including rape and mass killing, during the Liberation War, 43 years ago. On October 1, 2013, the then ICT-1 found Salauddin guilty of crimes against humanity during the Liberation War and condemned him to death. On October 29 the same year, Salauddin filed an appeal with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court against the ICT-1 verdict.