BanglaBhoot
RETIRED TTA
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2007
- Messages
- 8,839
- Reaction score
- 5
- Country
- Location
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has started the process of investigation to try the 195 warcrime accused in the Pakistan army.
This marks the beginning of the initiative for the long-awaited trial of any Pakistani citizen for war crimes on Bangladesh soil 42 years ago.
According to sources, the investigation started following several rounds of discussions between the investigation branch of the ICT and the prosecution team.
A total of 195 prisoners of war accused of war crimes were handed over to Pakistan under an India-Pakistan-Bangladesh tripartite agreement in 1974.
It has been said since then Bangladesh would not have any jurisdiction for trial of these persons but how the country steps into the process of trying these war criminals through the investigation by the ICT investigation team against these 195.
By now, several of the 195 Pakistani army and air force officials have passed away. Hence, only the living ones will face the trial.
Cases will be filed against the accused after the ICT investigation team submits the probe report after completion of inquiry.
In this connection, ICT prosecutor Dr Tureen Afroz said, “The crimes committed by Pakistanis in 1971 took place on the soil of Bangladesh and so Bangladesh state has every right to hold trial of those crimes.”
The new state Bangladesh was born on March 26 of 1971 and the trial of the crimes committed on this land after 26 March will be held very much in Bangladesh.
Moreover, by now, ICT in its various verdicts have given the decision for trying the Pakistani war criminals. The tribunal has said it clearly that the trial shall be held under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973. Even in the verdict on appeal also, opinion has been given for ensuring the trial.
Tureen Afroz said ICT prosecution and investigation teams already held several rounds of discussions on investigation against these 195 war criminals.
Accordingly, the investigation team has started collecting different info and data in this regard. The investigation team has already got important information and file about these 195 criminals. However, completion of the investigation will take time.
She said important information about genocide and war crimes in Bangladesh came up in the report of Hamudur Rahman Commission formed by Pakistan in 1972.
Bangladesh has got the right to hold trial of this crime under the ICT Act of 1973.
Legal expert Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam said the ICT Act 1973 of our country is enough to try the 195 Pak war criminals who went back to Pakistan. That law has specified that the trial of the crimes would be held in the country where those were committed.”Veteran legal expert Barrister Rafiqul Haque said the tripartite treety is in no way any obstacle to the trial of 195 war crimes accused of Pakistan army. He said the initiative taken by the investigation team of ICT is praiseworthy. “The tripartite agreement is no bar to their trial. There is no bar on the trial of 195 accused under our 1973 ICT Act,” he added.
Under the tripartite agreement 195 war criminals were repatriated to Pakistan on April 9, 1974. But legal experts say as the tripartite agreement has not been ratified by Bangladesh parliament, it carries no legal basis.
Bangladesh prepared a list of 195 officials of Pakistan army and air force. Of them, 194 were army men and the lone air force official was Air Commodore Enamul Huq Khan. Among the army officers, one was a Lt General, five were Maj Generals, 20 Brigadiers, four Colonels, 40 Lt Colonels, 81 Majors, 41 Captains and two Lieutenants.
These officers included Lt-General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi and Maj-Generals Nazar Hossain Shah, Mohammad Hossain Ansari, Mohammad Zamshed, Quazi Abdul Mazid Khan and Rao Farman Ali.
daily sun | First Page | 195 Pak army men to be tried by Dhaka for war crimes
This marks the beginning of the initiative for the long-awaited trial of any Pakistani citizen for war crimes on Bangladesh soil 42 years ago.
According to sources, the investigation started following several rounds of discussions between the investigation branch of the ICT and the prosecution team.
A total of 195 prisoners of war accused of war crimes were handed over to Pakistan under an India-Pakistan-Bangladesh tripartite agreement in 1974.
It has been said since then Bangladesh would not have any jurisdiction for trial of these persons but how the country steps into the process of trying these war criminals through the investigation by the ICT investigation team against these 195.
By now, several of the 195 Pakistani army and air force officials have passed away. Hence, only the living ones will face the trial.
Cases will be filed against the accused after the ICT investigation team submits the probe report after completion of inquiry.
In this connection, ICT prosecutor Dr Tureen Afroz said, “The crimes committed by Pakistanis in 1971 took place on the soil of Bangladesh and so Bangladesh state has every right to hold trial of those crimes.”
The new state Bangladesh was born on March 26 of 1971 and the trial of the crimes committed on this land after 26 March will be held very much in Bangladesh.
Moreover, by now, ICT in its various verdicts have given the decision for trying the Pakistani war criminals. The tribunal has said it clearly that the trial shall be held under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973. Even in the verdict on appeal also, opinion has been given for ensuring the trial.
Tureen Afroz said ICT prosecution and investigation teams already held several rounds of discussions on investigation against these 195 war criminals.
Accordingly, the investigation team has started collecting different info and data in this regard. The investigation team has already got important information and file about these 195 criminals. However, completion of the investigation will take time.
She said important information about genocide and war crimes in Bangladesh came up in the report of Hamudur Rahman Commission formed by Pakistan in 1972.
Bangladesh has got the right to hold trial of this crime under the ICT Act of 1973.
Legal expert Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam said the ICT Act 1973 of our country is enough to try the 195 Pak war criminals who went back to Pakistan. That law has specified that the trial of the crimes would be held in the country where those were committed.”Veteran legal expert Barrister Rafiqul Haque said the tripartite treety is in no way any obstacle to the trial of 195 war crimes accused of Pakistan army. He said the initiative taken by the investigation team of ICT is praiseworthy. “The tripartite agreement is no bar to their trial. There is no bar on the trial of 195 accused under our 1973 ICT Act,” he added.
Under the tripartite agreement 195 war criminals were repatriated to Pakistan on April 9, 1974. But legal experts say as the tripartite agreement has not been ratified by Bangladesh parliament, it carries no legal basis.
Bangladesh prepared a list of 195 officials of Pakistan army and air force. Of them, 194 were army men and the lone air force official was Air Commodore Enamul Huq Khan. Among the army officers, one was a Lt General, five were Maj Generals, 20 Brigadiers, four Colonels, 40 Lt Colonels, 81 Majors, 41 Captains and two Lieutenants.
These officers included Lt-General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi and Maj-Generals Nazar Hossain Shah, Mohammad Hossain Ansari, Mohammad Zamshed, Quazi Abdul Mazid Khan and Rao Farman Ali.
daily sun | First Page | 195 Pak army men to be tried by Dhaka for war crimes