DHAKA: Motiur Rahman Nizami’s lawyer Tajul Islam said the Supreme Court appellate division will rule out the tribunal verdict in the war crimes case against the Jamaat-e-Islami chief.

Tajul made an instant reaction to the media at tribunal premises immediately after International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 had awarded Nizami with capital punishment on four charges of crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.

Terming it a ‘misjudged verdict’, Tajul said, “It will not stand in the Appellate Division. In their deposition, none of two witnesses in the 16th charge said that Nizami was involved. How can he be the supreme commander here?”

He added, “The language of politicians and judiciary over a trial proceeding can never be similar. The tribunal cannot say that it gave the verdict to fulfill the people’s expectation.”

As per the 16th Charge, Al Badr killed innumerous intellectuals of the country. As the head of Al Badr, Nizami was responsible for the killing of intellectuals.

The first International Crimes Tribunal chairman M Enayetur Rahim, earlier in the day, awarded death sentence to Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Nizami in the second, fourth, sixth and 16th numbers of charges.

Nizami was, however, proved guilty in eight charges out of total 16 in the verdict.

BDST: 1530 HRS, OCT 29, 2014