Awami League 'happy' with rejection of death-row war criminal Mir Quasem's review petition

Awami League (AL) leader Mahbub-Ul-Alam Hanif says the ruling party is 'happy' with the Appellate Division's verdict rejecting war criminal Mir Quasem Ali petition to review his death sentence.

In his immediate reaction, the AL joint general secretary on Tuesday told bdnews24.com: "The nation's wish has come true with the verdict. We hope the sentence will be carried out quickly."

"This verdict was what the people were hoping for. We are happy, the nation is happy," Hanif said.

On Nov 2, 2014, the International Crimes Tribunal had sentenced Mir Quasem, a member of the Jamaat-e-Islami's Central Executive Council, to death for two charges of war crimes.

He challenged the verdict but in March this year, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence.

In June, Mir Quasem filed the petition for a review of the top court's verdict.

The five-strong Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha scrapped his petition Tuesday, leaving the Jamaat leader with only one last choice - seeking president's mercy by repenting for his crimes.

The government will execute the death sentence if he does not seek clemency or the president rejects his petition.

Regarding what comes next, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam has said, "If Mir Quasem Ali seeks presidential clemency that it will be another matter to discuss. If not, he will be executed whenever the government wants."

The 63-year-old war criminal is in a condemned cell at Gazipur's Kashimpur prison.