7 amici curiae appointed

The Supreme Court yesterday appointed seven senior lawyers as amici curiae, friends of the court, to assist it in dealing with the government's appeal seeking death penalty for war crime convict Jamaat-e Islami leader Abdul Quader Mollah.
The seven lawyers are TH Khan, Mahmudul Islam, Rafique-ul Huq, M Amir-Ul Islam, Rokanuddin Mahmud, AF Hasan Ariff and Ajmalul Hossain, Deputy Attorney General Ekramul Haque Tutul told The Daily Star.
Earlier in the morning, the Appellate Division of the SC announced its decision of appointing the amici curiae and asked the government and defence to supply relevant papers to the seven lawyers so that they can place opinions before it.
It passed the order during the hearing of the appeal filed by the government under the amended provision of the International Crimes (tribunals) Act, 1973. The government made the move after the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 on February 5 had sentenced Mollah to life for committing crimes   against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.
Yesterday, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam told the court that Quader Mollah deserves death penalty for each of the     six charges brought   against him before the ICT-2.
The apex court adjourned the appeal hearing till July 7 when the court will reopen after a vacation. The vacation will begin on Sunday.
The government on February 18 amended the ICT act clearing the way for filing an appeal with the SC against the tribunal's any inadequate sentencing of a convict.
On March 3, the prosecution filed the appeal with the SC. The following day, Mollah filed another appeal with the court seeking acquittal of all six charges.