Pakistan must try 195 war criminals: Shahjahan
Convener of International War Crimes Mass Trial Movement (IWCMTM) and Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan today said the 195 Pakistani war criminals, who were attached to Pakistan army in 1971, must be tried in line with the international law.
"Hamidur Commission of Pakistan government found 195 members of Pakistani army guilty for committing war crimes in 1971 in Bangladesh. They were handed over to the Pakistani authorities in line with the Simla Agreement signed by India, Bangladesh and Pakistan in 1974," he told journalists at a press conference at Swadhinata Hall in city`s Segun Bagicha area.
He said the Pakistan government is liable to hold the trial of their 195 army personnel as their involvement in heinous crimes including mass-killings, arson attacks, robberies, rapes and other anti-humanitarian acts were found during the War of Liberation in Bangladesh.
The minister called upon the Pakistan government to take immediate step to this end.
Earlier, 501-member committee of IWCMTM was formed with Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan as its convener.
The committee will create pressure on the Pakistan government through different diplomatic channels so that it (Pakistan) holds the trial of their 195 war criminals, he said, adding, "A symbolic trial of those Pakistani criminals will be held at Suhrawardy Uddyan on March 26, 2016." To press home the demands, the IWCMTM committee announced a series of programmes in the press conference.
The programmes include submission of a memorandum to the Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad on February 3, meeting at Central Shaheed Minar on February 17, rally from Motijheel to Jatiya Press Club on Feb 20 and submission of memorandum to the deputy commissioners (DCs) across the country on March 2.
Journalist Abed Khan, Shirin Akhter, MP, freedom fighter Ismat Quader Gama, Biduyt Sramik League general secretary Alauddin Mia, film personality Kazi Hayat, TV presenter Anjon Ray and actor Rokeya Prachi, among others, were present on the occasion.
