Verdict in another war crimes case today

Abdul Jabbar

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 is set to deliver its verdict today in a case against former Jatiya Party lawmaker Abdul Jabbar for allegedly committing crimes against humanity and genocide during the Liberation War.

The alleged chairman of Mathbaria thana unit Peace Committee, an auxiliary force of the Pakistani occupation army, faces five charges of crimes against humanity and genocide.

The trial opened and concluded in absentia as Jabbar went into hiding after its commencement.

“Let the matter [case] be fixed tomorrow for [the delivery of] judgement,” said Justice M Enayetur Rahim, chairman of the three-member tribunal, yesterday morning.

Prosecutor Zahid Imam hoped the tribunal would hand Jabbar capital punishment as the prosecution has “proved” all five charges against the fugitive accused.

On the other side, state-appointed defence counsel Mohammad Abul Hasan expected that the tribunal would exonerate his client from the charges.

The charges include killing 36 people, forcefully converting 200 Hindus and looting and torching 500 houses in several villages in Pirojpur.

As many as 24 witnesses have testified against the war crimes accused, but none was brought in to defend him.

Born on November 30, 1932 at Khetachira village of Pirojpur, Jabbar obtained BSc engineering degree and joined the politics of Muslim League. Later, he became an influential leader of the party.

He was elected an MPA in 1964.

He formed a Peace Committee in Mathbaria and became its chairman to collaborate with the Pakistani occupation army after the Liberation War had started, said the prosecution.

Under his patronisation, Razakar force was formed in Mathbaria and as per his directive, plans and conspiracy, the Pakistani army, Razakar force and members of the Peace Committee committed various crimes against humanity in the locality.

Accused in a case under the Collaborators Act, he went into hiding after the war and remained a fugitive till the political changeover of August 15, 1975. Jabbar later became active in politics and was elected a lawmaker from Mathbaria in 1986 and 1988 with Jatiya Party tickets.

Family members of the martyrs of 1971, freedom fighters and residents of Mathbaria protested when he was given a grand alliance ticket for the 2008 general elections.

Jabbar has been on the run since 2009, according to the war crimes investigation agency.

The prosecution had submitted formal charges on May 11 last year and the tribunal took the charges into cognisance the following day.

The tribunal on August 14 indicted Jabbar on the five charges and the trial began on September 7. After hearing arguments, the tribunal kept the case waiting for verdict on December 3.

CHARGES

Upon Jabbar's instructions, rajakars killed two freedom fighters -- Abdur Razzak Biswas and Motaleb Sharif -- on May 16, 1971 at Phuljhuri village and torched over 100 houses.

On May 17, he ordered his accomplices to shoot Sarda Kanta Paik to death and set 360 houses on fire at the same village.

The accused was charged with his involvement in the killing of 11 people and looting and torching 60 houses at Noli village in Pirojpur.

According to the indictment order, Jabbar along with his accomplices forcefully converted 200 Hindus of Tushkhali in the last week of May.

On October 6, Jabbar and his cohorts detained 37 people of Angulkata and Mathbaria villages. Of them, 22 were later killed and others injured, read the indictment order.