Azhar’s appeal hearing ends, verdict any day

The Supreme Court will deliver its verdict any day on the appeal filed by Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam against the death penalty given to him by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).

The four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, on Wednesday completed hearing of arguments from both the state and defense on an appeal, filed by Azhar challenging the ICT verdict that sentenced him to death.

During the hearing, Azhar’s lawyer Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Hossain prayed to the Supreme Court to acquit his client of the charges saying that his client was innocent and he is not involved in any crime.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam prayed to the apex court to uphold the ICT’s verdict that sentenced Azharul to death.

The ICT-1 on December 30, 2014 sentenced Azharul, assistant secretary general of Jamaat, to death for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War. 

Azhar filed an appeal with the SC challenging the verdict on January 28, 2015.