Cross-examination of the investigation officer in Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami case ended on Monday after the defence side questioned him for six days.
Defence counsel Mizanul Islam cross examined Abdur Razzaque Khan at the International Crimes Tribunal 1. He later pleaded for time to place witnesses in favour of the accused. The tribunal will set date of producing defence witnesses on Tuesday.
The IO was the 26th and last prosecution witness against former minister Nizami. The Jamaat ameer is facing 16 charges of murders and torture of unarmed people, and complicity to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Pabna and Dhaka in 1971.
The defence claimed that Nizami’s role during the Liberation War had been political, and he did not do any crime. The IO answered in the negative.
Razzaque also said witness Samar C Kundu had told him that Nizami had been caught by freedom fighters Anil and his fellows in August 1971 and tortured in confinement for couple of days. The IO submitted a written statement of the witness.
The defence also suggested that the IO had submitted a made-up probe report. Razzaque denied the allegation.
In response to a query, the IO said he had submitted the probe report on October 30, 2011. Last time he investigated the case was July 24 this year. “But as there is no provision to submit advance probe report, so I did not submit it.”
The tribunal asked the defence to place the first witness by October 10. Defence counsel Tajul Islam then pleaded for time saying the witness would not be ready to come before Eid.
The tribunal on Tuesday will hear two petitions from both the parties.