Defence to appeal against verdict

The defence lawyers have said they would file an appeal petition challenging the tribunal verdict that awarded former al-Badr leader ATM Azharul Islam death penalty.

Defence lawyer Tajul Islam made the statement while giving reaction over the verdict on Tuesday afternoon.

He said: “We are not satisfied with the verdict. We do not have any complain against the court [tribunal], it has given the verdict as per the deposition of the prosecution witnesses.

“But with this quality of witnesses, forget about death penalty, one cannot be even fined in a criminal case.”

The lawyer said: “We will appeal to the Supreme Court and hope Azharul Islam will receive justice there.”

The three-member International Crimes Tribunal 1, led by Justice Enayetur Rahim, found Azhar guilty on five charges out of six.

The assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami was given capital punishment for three charges including murder and genocide. He was given 30 years imprisonment in two charges.