Some “unnecessary” public statements made by the prosecution are behind the delay in delivering verdict in the war crimes case against Motiur Rahman Nizami, the incumbent chief of Jamaat-e-Islami.
On every working day, reporters visit the International Crimes Tribunal to hear announcement of the verdict date, but they get no confirmation. They assume that the verdict may come up before December 31, the day when tribunal 1 Chairman Justice ATM Fazle Kabir retires.
Earlier, a prosecutor told the media that the verdict might be pronounced before the Victory Day, December 16. His statement irked the tribunal.
The nation is eagerly waiting for the verdict in the case against Nizami, allegedly a top collaborator of the Pakistani occupation forces. He is facing 16 counts of crimes against humanity that include conspiracy, planning, complicity, incitement and active participation in Pabna and Dhaka during the 1971 Liberation War.
The trial began on May 28 last year and after around 18-month-long proceedings, it was kept for verdict on November 20. A total of 25 witnesses testified against Nizami while four in his favour.
According to the formal charges, Nizami had been the chief of Islami Chhatra Sangha (Jamaat’s student wing) of erstwhile East Pakistan chapter before October in 1971. Later he became the chief of all Pakistan Chhatra Sangha. Para militia group al-Badr, which is responsible for the systematic killings of intellectuals, was formed with the Chhatra Sangha members.
On December 3, the tribunal 1 expressed disappointment after a prosecutor had commented on a possible date of verdict before the media.
The tribunal warned him saying: “Do not mix up politics with your profession. Some unnecessary comments [you made] sometimes hamper proceedings of the tribunal.” It also said since it was the month of the Victory Day, the court would go slowly.
Mohammad Ali, the conducting prosecutor in the case, told the tribunal that he had made the comment based on assumption. “We are not saying anything that may hamper any decision or position of the tribunal.”
Yesterday, he also echoed the prediction that the verdict might be given by December 31.
This would be the 10th verdict in war crimes cases. Earlier, the tribunal 1 gave three verdicts and took three months for the Ghulam Azam case – from keeping the case for verdict until its pronouncement. In the case against Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, the tribunal took one and a half months.
