Bangladeshi social activists shout slogans in Dhaka on September 17, 2013, after a verdict was delivered against Abdul Quader Molla, the fourth-highest leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party. PHOTO: AFP
Jamaat-e- Islami (JI) in Pakistan is likely to submit a resolution during the current session of the lower house to condemn the sentences passed against JI leadership in Bangladesh.
Many leaders of the JI Bangladesh have been sentenced by an International Crimes Tribunal setup by ruling Awami League (AL) led government for supporting Pakistan army during 1971 and their alleged role in war crimes.
The JI Member of National Assembly (MNA) Sahibzada Mohammad Yaqub Khan from NA-34 Lower Dir is going to move a condemnation resolution next week against sentencing of the Islamic outfit’s Bangladesh leaders for supporting Pakistan and its army during 1971 war, said a statement.
The resolution would demand the government to take up the issue with Bangladesh government through diplomatic channels and exert its pressure to end convictions of the JI and other parties’ leaders, “as these leaders are being punished for their loyalty to Pakistan,” the statement said.
The mover of the proposed resolution Yaqub Khan told The Express Tribune that it was likely to be tabled in NA on Monday or Tuesday.
“The aged leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh are being punished for helping Pakistan during 1971 war. It is the obligation of Pakistan government to help these leaders and take a stand on this issue,” he added.
“It is a condemnation resolution,” he said, adding that his party was also in contact with other parties to garner support for the resolution and would also talk to the treasury benches to get their nod.
Senior leaders of the JI Bangladesh including its former Amir Professor Ghulam Azam, Ali Ahsan Mujahid and Abdul Qader Mullah have been sentenced by the tribunal formed by the AL-led government.
AL had won the 1970 general elections held during the martial law of General Yahya Khan but Pakistan Peoples Party under Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto opposed transferring power to the eastern wing of the country. This led to wide spread protests in the then East Pakistan followed by military crackdown and war with India the surrender of Pakistan Army in December 1971 and finally the birth of Bangladesh.
Independent historians accuse AL of committing organised massacre of thousands of non-Bengalis through its militant outfit Mukti Bahini during 1970-71 and after the birth of Bangladesh.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 22nd, 2013.
COMMENTS (35)
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This statement is completely false and misleading. ET's editors shouldn't have allowed this statement to be printed.
Bangladesh is not Afghanistan. India is there between it and Pakistan. So any dream of creating strategic asset will bite back Pakistan. Remember the lessons of 1971.
This is the matter of killing and raping at Mirpur,Dhaka in 1971. This is just a sin beyond of all political thoughts should never be logicalized any how. We get hurt when we hear that some reactionists are trying to sketch the matter as simply political while they have no connection with our land and people. What we have done is merely ours. We have just punished a criminal like a butcher.Don't raise any question on it. We won't live with this unbearable curse. Remember we have a rich ethical and historical background. Only for the shake of islam we can not spare a butcher and Islam does not say so.
Do these "bleeding-hearts" have anything to say about the Peshawar Bombing?Bigots!!
JI leaders should be getting the same punishment in Pakistan also. Infact all the religious parties and their leaders who are supporting talibans and their philosophy should be hanged.
@Mohammed Yusuf:
"I hope the JI also pass a resolution to bring back the more than 250,000 Urdu speaking Pakistanis who are living as refugees in Bangladesh. These refugees are as patriotic as the JI leaders and have rejected the citizenship of Bangladesh as they say they are Pakistanis"
"The Government of Pakistan amended her citizenship act by ordinance (Read Pakistan’s constitution and amendment to citizenship act) ) to deny nationality of the remaining Stranded Pakistanis (Aka Biharis). Pakistan’s denial of nationality was without a reason, retroactive, and with out due process of law."
That is the truth! Yet, Pakistanis don't ever tire of talking about hypocritical pan-islamic muslim causes or shedding crocodile tears for Kashmiris. I guess the reason the BD Behari Pakistanis have been abandoned by Pakistan is because they don't come with any new land to be attached to Pakistan.
I agree with suggestions to hand over Pakistani JI leaders to Bangladesh and ban the party from Pakistan also.
@Masood Khan...AL won 149 out of 151 seats....mandate of BD was not accepted.majority of members from AL was disqualified ...JI got walk over and got elected in bye election by few thousand votes
Eh? What about trying to sort out Pakistan and issues within Pakistan than other nations.... Come on lets grow up!
The punishments for killing of innocent East Pakistanis by the Pak Army and its thugs should be condemned and those rogues to be prosecuted. It is already late.
I hope the JI also pass a resolution to bring back the more than 250,000 Urdu speaking Pakistanis who are living as refugees in Bangladesh. These refugees are as patriotic as the JI leaders and have rejected the citizenship of Bangladesh as they say they are Pakistanis. When will Pakistan take them back? Some of them are sneaking into India through the porus borders PLS DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM ALSO AS THEY FOUGHT FOR PAKISTAN AND ARE STILL LOYAL TO PAKISTAN. Refugees International cites the more than 250,000 ethnic Biharis, who have been living in refugee camps in Bangladesh since 1971. Pakistan only accepted about one third of this population for repatriation, 250-300 thousand have been living as stateless people in Bangladesh for more than a quarter of a century. Their story of woes in Bangladesh is as cruel as it is long. (Read excerpts from “Internment Camps of Bangladesh”) (Read excerpts from “Biharis in Bangladesh”). These Stateless people continued returning to their country of citizenship by whatever means possible. At this time there are at least 100 thousand living in Pakistan who are not recognized as citizens of Pakistan. Urdu-speaking are a minority in Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan amended her citizenship act by ordinance (Read Pakistan’s constitution and amendment to citizenship act) ) to deny nationality of the remaining Stranded Pakistanis (Aka Biharis). Pakistan’s denial of nationality was without a reason, retroactive, and with out due process of law. This has never been challenged in a Pakistani court of law but is patently unconstitutional and illegal. Remember this minority is not guilty of or even charged with any offence in either country.
Pakistan Army was conducting a Genocide in East Pakistan (Bangladesh) in 1971. Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) was actively helping Pakistan Army there in killing (general people and intellectual killing), looting, raping etc. Jamaat had their own strategy too. However, in 1971 they didn't get time to implement them fully as situation became difficult against Pakistan Army (and pro-Pakistan sides) with each passing day.
The leaders who get death sentence recently for war crime were the top leaders of 1971 Al-Badr killing squad. There is no doubt about there crime. Millions of witnesses are still alive.
1971 Jamaat-i-Islami was the slave of evil --- there was nothing 'Islami' with Jamaat then.
Khane ko nahin dane ...amma chale bhunane.....people of pakis come on streets like Indians and give a MUKKA to these idiots...
Deen-e-Mullah........fi sabil Allah fasad
how true for JI
Pakistan should hand over JI leaders to Bangladesh for their trial their for making interferance in their internal matters and also conspiring 1971 war and chaos there.
@A J Khan:
Agreed with the analysis. JI bagged most of the seats in East Pakistan when Yahya Khan held by-elections over there. That was the only time in JI' history when they won on such a large scale. Their dreams turned sour otherwise we could have a PM from JI in case of army victory.
Mohammad Yaqub Khan should be disqualified from being a member of Pakistan's National Assembly, for wasting other members' time and attention by diverting them to the ridiculous and total unnecessary task of passing resolutions against what the Bangladeshi courts have correctly done, namely deal according to the law with a rapist and murderer who indulged in extra-legal activities at the behest of his Jamaati masters in then West Pakistan. In fact, parties like the Jamaat-e-Islamai and the PTI should be banned in Pakistan since, by their overt and covert support of the Taliban, they are complicit in the deaths of 50,000 Pakistanis, including the many brave officers and jawans of our defence forces who died at the hands of these savages who want to take back the Country to the Stone Age.
@Weird:
Sorry that we can't do. Whether its APC resolution or PM address, everyone shies away even naming the TTP.
i protest this one sided article. in reality, jamat-e- islami, members of pakistan army killed, tortured bangladeshis, leading to creation of mukhti bahini with the help of enemy india and finally bangladesh. pakistan army want revenge, so they created militant outfits (kashmiris are not part of this) and are fighting against indian army who kills, tortures poor innocent kashmiris. pakistan army want two india, like pakistan was divided into two parts. call it tit for tat.
@Zakir Siddiqui:
No, its not ok to poke into other countries domestic affairs. And so shall we refrain ourselves from it. It is even insane and silly to stage agitation and break our own law and our national assetts, on our streets for some event happening outside our boundries.
Jamat-e-islami should also be banned in pakistan for supporting terrorist..recently Al-Qaeda operative arrested from P.U...and ling with LeT
JI was not supporting Pak Army, but had its own political agenda. They wanted to fill the political vaccum through use of gun. They are using same methods here even today.
This is called poking the nose in other's affairs. You will not stop till you get your nose bloodied.
Long live Bangladesh. JI should be banned from Pakistan also as a first step from removing Takfiri ideology.
JI never says a word when TTP kills Pakistani army personnel and Pakistani citizens.
apparently millions of bangladeshis have come to pakistan since 1971, (illegally) attained ID cards and citizenship, earned a livelihood, and gone back home. Many still live and work in Karachi.
we got our own problems to resolve, i am not bothered what happens in BD....
JI is one of the most hypocrite, if your leaders supported pakistan in 1971 then its patriotism then y do u abuse people who opposed the partition of subcontinent, they were also patriotist towards their motherland India
Oh Please ...spare us of Bangladesh matters !
we already have enough sufferings from poking into Afghan matters.
So, I guess its ok for Indians and Americans and other international busybodies to pass resolutions in their countries about how Pakistan should treat Baloch separatists with kid gloves. After all, in the off chance, that the Baloch become independent, we should be careful not to condemn Baloch 'patriots'. Correct ..?
BD verdict is ridiculous and the govt of pakistan must ensure to put pressure on the BD govt to withdraw the cases and close the chapter. "Supporting mutiny and validating the same is criminal act with no justification".
Any chance of a resolution against the TTP?
Oh Please spare us....Bangladesh is an indepandent country and we have nothing to do with thier domestic affairs. Please if you have to protest go to Dhaka. Don't block streets in Pakistan.
Enough of your none sense.
PPP should support JI since it was because of the arrogance of their leader that Pakistan ended up with this war and lost half of it's state.