Jamaat-e-Islami’s key financier Mir Quasem Ali, who was sentenced to death for committing crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, has appealed with the Supreme Court against the verdict.
These appeals are generally taken up by an Appellate Division bench, headed by the chief justice.
His lawyer Shishir Monir filed the petition yesterday seeking acquittal from the charges. The defence has sought to argue on 181 points in its 150-page petition. They also submitted related documents regarding the case.
After filling of the petition, the counsel told reporters: “We hope to get justice at the apex court.”
A commander of para militia force al-Badr during the war, Mir Quasem was awarded capital punishment by the International Crimes Tribunal 2 on November 3.
“The al-Badr camp at Daleem Hotel [in Andorkilla area] was a ‘criminal enterprise’ of which accused Mir Quasem Ali was a ‘boss,’” says the verdict. “Mir Quasem Ali had been in steering and guiding position of al-Badr force headquartered at Daleem Hotel which was a ‘death-factory’ indeed.”
Just after completion of delivering the verdict, Mir Quasem stood up shouting: “False incidents, false witnesses, dictated verdict. Truth will win, lies will be defeated...soon, soon.”
The tribunal handed down death penalty in two charges for killing seven people, including one Jasimuddin, after abduction. He was awarded a total of 72-year imprisonment on other charges of abduction, conspiracy and planning. Four charges were not proved.
Mir Quasem joined Islami Chhatra Sangha, then student wing of Jamaat, in 1967 while studying at Chittagong Collegiate School. He later became its Chittagong City unit general secretary. He played an important role in forming al-Badr Bahini that orchestrated systematic killing of freedom fighters and intellectuals.