Staff Correspondent
Former BNP lawmaker Abdul Alim's lawyers yesterday sought discharge of their client from charges of crimes against humanity at the International Crimes Tribunal-2 claiming that the charges were brought on "insufficient legal and factual basis".
The defence made the plea in response to the prosecution's prayer to indict the former minister who is facing 74 charges of crimes against humanity in 28 incidents committed during the Liberation War in 1971.
Tajul Islam, one of Alim's counsels, yesterday read out the 25-page petition seeking discharge from the accusations brought by the prosecution in the formal charges against the three-time elected parliamentarian.
The three-member tribunal headed by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir with members Justice Obaidul Hasan and Judge M Shahinur Islam adjourned the proceeding till tomorrow following the time petition of the defence, as they could not complete their preparation.
The defence are scheduled to place their argument that day supporting the discharge petition.
Alim, who was arrested on March 27 last year and has been on conditional bail after three days of his arrest was present at the courtroom.
As yesterday's proceeding started at 10:35am, Tajul said the prosecution has failed to specify which acts were committed by his client as crimes against humanity.
The prosecution have failed to provide names of the alleged victims in several counts, said Tajul, adding that they have also failed in several times to include the specific dates or a relatively small time period as to when the offences took place.
He added the prosecution charge the accused of his speeches but they have failed to establish that crimes against humanity actually occurred within the charge.
Earlier on April 26, the prosecution completed their argument supporting the formal charges and pleaded that the tribunal frames charge against Alim.
Prosecutor Rana Dasgupta told the tribunal Alim, an influential leader of East Pakistan Conventional Muslim League, formed Peace Committee and Razakar Bahini (two collaborator forces) in Joypurhat in 1971 and committed killings, genocide, rape, looting, arson and other crimes against humanity in association with the auxiliary forces and the Pakistan army.
Meanwhile, the tribunal allowed a prosecution petition seeking addition of some words and some corresponding dates in the formal charges and directed the prosecution to supply the correct copy to the tribunal and the defence.
CASE OF ABDUL QUADER MOLLAH
The International Crimes Tribunal-2 yesterday heard two prosecution petitions seeking permission to submit six additional witnesses in the case against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Mollah in connection with crimes against humanity.
The International Crimes Tribunal-2 yesterday heard two prosecution petitions seeking permission to submit six additional witnesses in the case against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Mollah in connection with crimes against humanity.
Placing his argument Prosecutor Mohammad Ali said the tribunal act gives them an opportunity to place new witnesses in the case and appealed to the tribunal for permission to that end.
Opposing the petition, Farid Uddin Khan, one of the defence counsels, argued that Tribunal-1 had passed an order in response to a similar petition.
He said in response to a prosecution petition seeking permission to bring an additional charge and a witness against Quader Mollah, Tribunal-1 ordered to keep the matter in record and said it would be considered during charge framing.
The court may pass an order after holding hearing another prosecution petition today, Farid Uddin told The Daily Star yesterday.
Meanwhile, the prosecution yesterday filed a petition seeking some correction in the formal charge and Mohammad Ali placed his argument supporting the petition.
The tribunal also fixed today for recording the defence's argument in this regard.
Quader Mollah, assistant secretary general of Jamaat, was produced in the dock during the court proceeding.
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