State, defence wait for copy of full Supreme Court verdict that confirmed Mir Quasem's death penalty

Both the State and the defence are now waiting for the full version of the Appellate Division verdict, which has confirmed the death sentence for Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali for war crimes in 1971.

Asked about the process of the verdict execution, Law Minister Anisul Huq said on Tuesday, “We’ll wait for 15 days after the full version of the verdict is published.

 “If they (defence) don’t seek review of the judgment (by that time), we’ll take measures to execute the verdict.”

The minister referred to the Appellate Division verdict on the review petition by another death-row convict, Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla, in which the court had said the defence could seek review in 15 days after the full version of the appeal verdict was published.

A death-row convict can seek review of Appellate Division verdict and if rejected, he or she can plea for president’s clemency.

The government hangs the convict if the plea is turned down.

The Appellate Division on Tuesday upheld the capital punishment awarded to Quasem by the International Crimes Tribunal on Nov 2, 2014 for the atrocities.

Quasem’s wife Khondokar Ayesha Khatun and lawyer Khandaker Mahbub Hossain said they would file a review petition once the copy of the full verdict was available.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said the State was also looking forward to the full verdict.

“On what ground Mir Quasem has been acquitted in a charge cannot be said right at the moment. We can say that once the full version of the verdict is available,” he said.