Dhaka tribunal to deliver verdict against Jamaat leader Mir Quasem on Sunday

War criminal Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem will know his fate on Sunday.

A tribunal in Dhaka today fixed Sunday for delivering its verdict against the war crimes case accused.

Quasem, the alleged chief of Chittagong Al-Badr, an auxiliary force of Pakistani army, faces 14 charges, including murders, committed in Chittagong city between November and December 16, 1971, reports the Daily Star.

If convicted, Quasem, who is considered as one of the top financiers of Jamaat, may face the death penalty.

On May 4, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 concluded the hearing of closing arguments in the case against Mir Quasem and kept the case waiting for verdict delivery.

 

According to the prosecution, Quasem, president of Jamaat's then student wing Islami Chhatra Sangha's Chittagong city unit, colluded with the Pakistani army, Jamaat, and other anti-liberation forces and formed Al-Badr force there in 1971.

As the Al-Badr commander, Quasem had led the setting up of several Al-Badr camps in Chittagong for torturing and killing pro-liberation people, the prosecution said.

Quasem also had links with the Pakistan army and had direct involvement in crimes like abductions, torture, and murder in 1971, the prosecution claimed.

They produced 24 witnesses, mostly victims, and documents to prove the charges. They, however, could not produce any witness in support of two charges.

Quasem's defence said their client was indeed involved in Islami Chhatra Sangha in 1971, but he had nothing to do with Al-Badr or any torture camp.