Pakistan expresses deep concern over ‘unfortunate’ executions of BNP leaders

• Nisar concerned over violation of human rights in Bangladesh, silence of global community
• JI chief says Bangladesh should not execute JI leaders because they loved Islam, Pakistan

Pakistan has expressed deep concern over the unfortunate executions of Bangladesh National Party leaders Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid.

Expressing grave concerns over the violation of human rights in Bangladesh and silence of global community over the issue Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that a ‘group’ in Bangladesh is averse to restoration of amicable atmosphere between the people of Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The interior minister said on Sunday that victimizing the people who were supportive of Pakistan was a severe violation of international human rights and it was time to end the thirst of taking revenge.

He also expressed deep concern and anguish over the unfortunate executions of Bangladesh National Party leaders Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid.

He said that what happened in 1971 was the worst tale in history but it needed to be forgotten and now the two countries should look to the future for better relations and mutual cooperation which was need of the hour in the current international scenario.

“The people of Pakistan and Bangladesh wish to cultivate amicability and brotherhood by putting behind bitterness of the past.”

Nisar said he was surprised to witness the silence of the international community, particularly, of human rights groups over what he called the ‘killing of justice’. He said that Pakistan calls for reconciliation in Bangladesh under the 1974 agreement.

Meanwhile, a Foreign Office spokesperson said in  a statement that Pakistan was deeply disturbed at this development. He said that Pakistan had also been noting the reaction of the international community to the ‘flawed trials’ in Bangladesh related to the events of 1971.

He said reconciliation is needed in Bangladesh in accordance with the spirit of Pakistan-India-Bangladesh Agreement of 9th April 1974. The Agreement calls for a forward looking approach in matters relating to 1971, he said, and added that this would foster goodwill and harmony between the two countries.

JAMAAT-E-ISLAMI REACTS:

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Ameer Senator Sirajul Haq has termed the execution of two senior ‘Islam-loving’ leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh as the worst example of victimization and human rights violation and said that they were executed for their love of Pakistan and its ideology.

One of those executed in the Dhaka Central Jail on Sunday, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, was also a leader of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh.

Addressing a massive public gathering on Sunday, Haq said the only crime of the executed leaders was their love for this country, its ideology and its armed forces. He expressed surprise over the silence of Pakistani authorities over the issue and said that the executions were a violation of the tripartite agreement between Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. JI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, JI central leader Prof. Muhammad Ibrahim Khan and other party leaders were also present on the occasion.

The JI chief said that the government of Hasina Wajid, daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Bangladesh was eliminating pro-Pakistan people one by one and several prominent JI leaders there had been executed, but the rulers in Islamabad had been silent. He said that these brave people had preferred death over making an appeal to the Indian agents ruling Bangladesh.

“These brave people have given us a message that living and dying for this country is the key to paradise”. They had revived the memory of Imam Husain, he added.

LIBERALS, GO TO INDIA:

Haq took strong exception to PM’s remarks regarding a liberal Pakistan saying the founder of the country Quaid-e-Azam had repeatedly talked of Pakistan as an Islamic state. He questioned whether the supporters of liberalism were right or the founder of Pakistan.

He suggested that people who have so much love for liberalism and secularism should go to India where they can freely practice their desires.

The JI chief termed working with the IMF and World Bank as a treachery with Pakistan’s ideology. He said that the rulers were receiving huge loans but the entire burden fell on the masses.

The JI chief said that Dr Aafia Siddiqui was a respected daughter of the country but the political leadership had never raised the issue of her release during their visits to the US.

He said that the resources of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province including water and power were being controlled by the federal government which was not giving a fair deal to the province. He said that they not compromise on the rights of the province.

Haq said that the plight of the temporarily displaced persons (TDPs) was pitiable. He said that these people were forced to leave their homes on a 24 hour notice but the government, so far, had not given the date for the end of the operation although it was claiming that 85 per cent of the area had been cleared. He said that the TDPs should be sent to their homes and every possible help and assistance should be provided to them.

Across the board accountability was the need of the hour, he said, and added that NAB or other existing institutions could not carry out accountability of the corrupt. Only the JI would do this and it would recover every penny of the public money from the plunderers, he added.

The JI chief expressed his hope that 2018 would be the year for change when masses would get rid of those who had violated their rights and had plundered the national exchequer.