DHAKA: Jamaat-e-Islami Wednesday came up with a resentful disapproval of the war-crime-trial move as the embattled party’s current leadership said the government has arranged a “farce in the name of” trying the Jamaat top brass out of “political vendetta”.

ATM Azharul Islam, the acting Secretary-General of Jamaat, made the allegation at a press conference at the party’s Maghbazar central office. The press conference was arranged to inform the journalists about the arrest of top party leaders, “torture” on them on remand and party position on the current political situation.

Azharul Islam reminded that after the liberation war, the Awami League government identified 195 officers of the then Pakistan Army as war criminals.

“But, after 39 years of the liberation war, now the trial is being held accusing the innocent Jamaat leaders instead of those war criminals, which is an utter violation of human rights,” he said.  
 
Islam went to the extent of dismissing as a “black law” the 1973 law under which his party leaders are being put in the dock to stand trial on charge of the crimes committed way back in 1971 during the country’s liberation war.      

The stand-in Jamaat secretary general claimed legal experts from home and abroad have recorded their strong objection on the 1973 law, The International Crimes Tribunal (amendment) Act.

He informed that the ‘International Bar Association War Crime Committee’ already placed 17 objections about the law (1973 act) under which the special tribunal was formed.

Azharul Islam alleged that the Jamaat leaders have been arrested for harassing them politically, saying, “As per section 11(5) of the International Crimes Tribunal (amendment) Act 1973, arrest warrant could not be issued against any accused before framing charge.”

Assistant secretary-general Professor Mujibur Rahman, City Jamaat secretary Hamidur Rahman Azad MP and law affairs secretary advocate Jasimuddin were present at the press meet.

BDST 1531 HRS AUGUST 4, 2010