The International Crimes Tribunal-1, which is holding trial against Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami for his alleged crimes against humanity in 1971, will deliver its verdict today (Tuesday)Nizami, 71, is facing 16 charges for his alleged involvement in genocide, mass killings and crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War in 1971.The Jamaat ameer, who was president of Islami Chhatra Sangha in 1971, played a vital role in collaborating with the Pakistani junta in committing genocide.The three-member International Crimes Tribunal-1 led by its chairman Justice M Enayetur Rahim yesterday gave the order for the verdict. On November 13, 2013, the tribunal kept the case waiting to deliver its verdict due to retirement of then tribunal chairman Justice ATM Fazle Kabir. Afterwards, the new chairman of the tribunal, appointed on February 23, decided to hear again the closing arguments.Later, On March 24, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 kept the war crimes case waiting for verdict delivery for the second time.In the concluding of the rehearing, both the prosecution and the defence lawyer made contradictory claims over the fate of the war crimes accused Nizami. The prosecution lawyers prayed for capital punishment to Nizamk before the Tribunal for committing crimes against humanity as it has proved 15 out of 16 charges.On the other hand, the defence lawyers, prayed for Nizami’s acquittal from the charges as the evidence of the prosecution witnesses appears `tutored’ for which there is no scope of awarding any sentence sans letting him off.After hearing both the sides, the tribunal kept pending its judgment to be delivered any day.Nizami’s trial began on May 28, 2012 after his arrest on July 29, 2010, over a warrant of arrest in connection with a criminal case over hurting the religious sentiment of Muslims.The investigators on October 2011 submitted a 411-page probe report on crimes Nizami allegedly committed. On Dec 11, 2012, the prosecution brought specific charges against Nizami and on Dec 28 the court took them into cognisance.Nizami was born in 1943 at Mohammadpur village of Pabna’s Santhiya Upazila. He was the head of the East-Pakistan unit of Jamaat’s student affiliate, Islami Chhatra Shangha, during the 1971 Liberation War.Charges against Nizami: 1. Causing arrest, detention, torture and murder of three victims including the head maulana Kasim Uddin of Pabna Zilla School on June 4, 1971.2. Conspiring to commit crimes, and cause the killings of 450 people, rape of 30-40 women and deportation of villagers of Baousgari, Ruposhi and Demra in Pabna on May 14, 1971.3. Complicity in torture, murder and rape at Mohammadpur Physical Training Institute in Dhaka during the war.4. Complicity in murders, rapes, loot and destruction of properties at Karamja village of Pabna on May 8, 1971.5. Complicity in the murder of 21 unarmed villagers of Arpara and Vutergari under Ishwardi Police Station on April 16, 1971.6. Command responsibility for and involved in the murder of 30 people of Dhulaura village on November 27, 1971.7. Complicity in torture and murder of Sohrab Ali on December 3, 1971.8. Murder of Bodi, Rumi, Jewel and Azad at the Old MP Hostel on August 30, 1971.9. Act of genocide that left about 70 Hindus of Brishalikha village killed on December 3, 1971.10. Involvement in the destruction of Onil Chandra Kundu’s house.11. Delivering an inciting speech on August 3, 1971, during a meeting of Islami Chhatra Sangha at the Muslim Institute Chittagong.12. Delivering an inciting speech on August 22, 1971, during a meeting organised in remembrance of Al Madani at the Islamic Academy Hall.13. Delivering an inciting speech on September 8, 1971, marking the defence day on the Arts Building premises organised by Dhaka city unit of Chhatra Sangha.14. Delivering an inciting speech to Razakars of Jessore On September 10, 1971.15. Hatching a conspiracy to commit crimes at Sathia Pilot High School with Razakar commander Samad Miah.16. Act of genocide to eliminate intellectuals and professionals. party was founded in Dhaka as Awami Muslim League. The word ‘Muslim’ was dropped from the party’s name in 1953. Ever since, the party played an active role in all the democratic and nationalist movements leading to the 1971 War of Independence.
