It would have been better had Bangladesh forgiven Molla, who was in his 90s, for what had happened 42 years ago, says Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
The National Assembly on Monday passed a resolution against the hanging of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh leader Abdul Quader Molla with majority votes.
The resolution moved by Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Sher Akbar Khan was supported by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Awami Muslim League (AML). Sitting on the opposition benches, MPs from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), opposed the resolution.
Molla was executed on December 12 after Bangladesh’s top court convicted him of war crimes during the 1971 war of secession.
“This house expresses concerns over the execution of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader of Bangladesh, Abdul Quader Molla, for supporting Pakistan and [we give our] condolences to his family and the JI Bangladesh. This house demands of the Bangladesh government not to rake up the memories of 1971 and all cases against JI leaders [of Bangladesh] should be settled amicably,” read the resolution.
However, PPP lawmaker Abdul Sattar Bachani retorted, “We condemn meddling in the affairs of an independent state. We should not interfere in its affairs if the country has executed someone.”
Abdul Waseem of the MQM was of the view that “instead of discussing reasons behind the fall of Dhaka, we were talking about a mere incident in Bangladesh”. The house should be discussing what led to the fall of Dhaka as we are faced with a similar situation today, he said. “Why don’t we read the Hamoodur Rehman Commission Report and learn a lesson [from history] to save this country?”
It was Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan who began the debate over the issue and announced the government’s support for the resolution. “There is a need for soul-searching as today is the day when East Pakistan was separated,” he said.
“Bangladesh is a sovereign state and we respect that,” but the execution of Molla, a supporter of united Pakistan, was a ‘judicial murder’ and has saddened the entire nation again, he said.
Nisar said Molla was loyal to Pakistan till December 16, 1971, the day Bangladesh came into being. It would have been better had Bangladesh forgiven Molla, who was in his 90s, for what had happened 42 years ago, he added.
After PPP’s announcement to oppose the resolution, Nisar said the resolution does not say anything against the sovereignty of Bangladesh but that Molla was executed because of politics.
PTI’s Javed Hashmi said his party recognises Molla’s efforts for Pakistan before the creation of Bangladesh and if he had been punished for that, it could be said that he was “fighting for Pakistan. Molla is Shaheed-e-Pakistan”. “History would have been different if the Indian army had not intervened,” Hashmi added.
The debate provided PTI Chairman Imran Khan to plead his pro-dialogue case, maintaining that using force was not a solution to any problem, as he referred to the military operation in former East Pakistan. “We have not learnt a lesson from our past,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2013.
COMMENTS (19)
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On one hand national assembly passing resolution against the judiciary of Bangladesh while on the other hand claiming not to interfere in the internal affairs of this country .
It is due to visible duelities in the policies of Pakistan , this country has got entangled in the present mess even then she is not ready to learn from her past mistakes .
'Old is Gold' seems not for Pakistan --- who likes to remember (post WWll) world's Biggest Unconditional Military Surrender to Mukti Bahini and the Indians?
I guess, if Pakistan punish 1971 war criminals (living in Pakistan) and officially apologize to Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina government in Dhaka will not 'rake up Old memories'.
"MPs to Dhaka: Don’t rake up old memories" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pls we have developed amnesia with great effort.
@rasgullah: Also for Karachi
@Babloo: Dont drag into other topics. This issue was highlighted and condemned by Amnesty and Human Rights Watch as well.
Dont know why is PK is so ready to meddle in other countries affairs while our won country all the corrupt and criminals go free doing what ever they want,
It not a bad day for Bangladesh but a bad day for PK.
Bangladesh has shown the way for Sindh and Balochistan.
A step in the right direction.Good move by the National Assembly.
Hanging a man in his nineties after an extremely questionable judicial process does not reflect well on Bangladesh at all. The sentencing of Molla- who had an admittedly unsavory past- was all about politics and rabble-rousing. That said, Pakistan should probably refrain from public comments on it. It doesn't get us anywhere, and won't help us introspect and come to terms with our past and find a way into a better future.
Yes , brush everything under the rug and pretend that 1-3 million innocent Bangladeshis were not killed. Just pretend and smile.
Lust of power from a leader in west Pakistan led to separation of east Pakistan.
WOW, what bravery! NA can pass resolution condemning execution of Molla by Bangladesh, but never a peep from NA about resolution condemning TTP for "execution" of countless Pakistanis!
Why do we feel the need to meddle in the affairs of Bangladesh, Afghanistan and India?
Kader molla is not punished for his loyalty to Pakistan in 1971, he is punished for his crimes against humanity in 1971 liberation war.
So it is okay for the people who killed millions of Bengalis, just cause it brings bad memories to Jamaat?
Molla was a criminal and was served justice in his country. You all need to do same in your country. Capture and prosecute the criminals, dont bow down to them or "negotiate" with them.
Good job NA for a change.
We, Pakistanis, recognize the mistakes we made in East Pakistan; however the people there were not clean as well. We both created the mess we ultimately paid the price for. However, we wish our brothers in Bangladesh the best of luck.
We should not forget that India took advantage of the situation and used it to help break a "United" Pakistan to try and negate the two nation theory as well as try to cut Pakistan to size - a bigger Bhutan.
This effort by India continues today - despite Pakistan trying to be a good neighbour and offer peace. The western borders of Pakistan are restive because of outside interference. The Pakistani establishment has enough proof; however it is difficult to present proof when the country is beleaguered not just on all sides externally but internally as well.