The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 on Wednesday set April 27 for placing arguments by the prosecution in the trial of Jamaat leader Mir Quasem Ali, charged with committing crimes against humanity during the War of Liberation.
The second tribunal set the date after prosecution concluded quizzing third defence witness (DW) Abu Taher Khan, 63. Khan, claiming himself to be a Freedom Fighter (FF), managed to raise some eyebrows as he said he has no knowledge whether Ghulam Azam, convicted for his crimes against humanity, was involved in the infamous Peace Committee, an auxiliary organization of Pakistani occupation army, during the war or not. He also expressed his ignorance about torturing of innocent civilians in different camps, including Goods Hill, Chittagong Circuit House, Chittagong Stadium, Dost Mohammad Building, Dalim Hotel, run by the Pakistani army and their local collaborators during the war.
The defence also exhibited four documents – a document in connection with a case relating to Dalim Hotel and three books, ‘Pramanya Dalil, Muktijudhdhe Chittagong’, ‘Anwara – Ekattorer Ganohatya O Muktijudhdha’ and ‘Ekattorer Judhdhaporadhider Talika.’
Khan was not the first one that took the witness dock for the accused with the identity of an FF. DW-2, Mohammad Ali, also claimed himself to be a FF, but accepted the fact that he never took part in any significant operation against any anti-liberation force.
