Verdict on Nizami appeal Jan 6

The Supreme Court (SC) will deliver its verdict on January 6 on the appeal filed by condemned convict Jamaat Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami challenging the death penalty for his crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. A four-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC, headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, fixed the date today (December 8) after hearing arguments from the defence side. Khandker Mahbub Hossain, counsel for Nizami, argued for commuting the Jamaat ameer’s punishment on the ground that he confessed to his guilt. On December 7, the prosecution concluded its arguments on the appeal of Nizami. The bench heard the augments placed by Attorney General Mahbubey Alam. The highest law officer of the state told reporters that they placed strong arguments in favour of upholding Nizami’s death penalty for his crimes against humanity. Earlier on December 2, the death-row war crimes convict after confessing to his guilt submitted a prayer seeking commutation of his punishment. On that day, Nizami’s counsel Khandaker Mahabub Hossain also prayed to the apex court for releasing him or giving him any other punishment instead of death penalty taking his age and physical condition into consideration. On November 25, a four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by the Chief Justice, set November 30 to start placing arguments on the appeal of Nizami. On October 29 last year, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 sentenced Nizami to death for committing crimes against humanity, including genocide and the murder of intellectuals, during the Liberation War. The tribunal sentenced Nizami, the 1971 commander-in-chief of Al Badr, a secret killing squad of Jamaate-e-Islami, the capital punishment each on four counts of charges of war crimes, terming Al Badr a criminal outfit. Nizami filed an appeal challenging the death sentence and claimed himself innocent and sought to be cleared of the charges on November 23, 2014. — Dhaka, Dec 8 (UNB)