The prosecution termed yesterday's verdict on Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami as their success while the defence called it unjust and said they would appeal against it in the Supreme Court.

After the International Crimes Tribunal-1 pronounced Nizami guilty of war crimes and handed down the capital punishment on four charges, Prosecutor Mohammad Ali told journalists outside the court that they had proved beyond doubt eight of the 16 charges brought against him, which led to such a judgment.

Another prosecution lawyer Haider Ali cited an observation made by the judges in the ruling that it was shameful for the nation that such a recognised war criminal had been made a minister during the rule of a former political government.

Referring to another observation, barrister Tureen Afroze said, "Regarding crimes of politicians they [judges] said just because a person was a politician, it did not mean that the case against him/her would be political in nature or given political consideration.”

Politician or non-politician, crimes committed by a person would be tried in light of the same rule under the same law, she told reporters. 

The defence, however, expressed opposite views.

"Nizami did not get justice…. We must appeal against the verdict," said Tajul Islam, a counsel of Nizami.

"I think that the tribunal has observed many things beyond its jurisdiction, which are not related to the trial. It is not acceptable at all.

 "The verdict is weak and it will not sustain in the Appellate Division (of the Supreme Court)," the defence counsel added.

Meanwhile, Nazib Momen, a son of Nizami, who was present at the tribunal, declined to make any comment over the verdict.

He, who worked as Nizami's counsel, was the only family member of the Jamaat leader at the tribunal during the delivery of the judgment.

Tajul said Nizami told his counsels when they went to meet him after the delivery of the judgment that he had not committed those crimes he was convicted of.

"He [Nizami] also told his party activists to remain calm.”