Dhaka protests Pak resolution

The government has strongly protested the resolutions adopted by the Pakistan National Assembly and the Punjab Provincial Assembly on the war crimes verdicts.

"The government today strongly protested the resolutions adopted by the Pakistan National Assembly and the Punjab Provincial Assembly and also remarks by a senior cabinet minister of Pakistan on the verdict of the War Crimes Tribunals in Bangladesh," said Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali.

Speaking at a press briefing at the foreign ministry this evening, he said, "The war crimes trials in Bangladesh are an internal matter and such the uncalled for resolutions on the verdicts of the war crimes trials are tantamount to interference in the domestic affairs of Bangladesh."

The foreign minister also termed the Pakistan resolutions "very unfortunate".

Earlier in the day, the foreign office summoned Pakistan high commissioner in Dhaka today, a day into the Pakistan National Assembly adopted a resolution to express concern over the execution of Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah.

Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi went to the foreign office and met Secretary (bilateral, consular and training) Mustafa Kamal for 25 minutes till 5:50pm, our diplomatic correspondent reports.

A view of the National Assembly of Pakistan

According to well-placed sources, the foreign ministry was likely to protest the strong-worded NA resolution, which was moved by Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan member Sher Akbar Khan and was adopted with a majority vote yesterday.

Besides, the Bangladesh government might also protest the statement of the Pakistan Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan who said Mollah was hanged “through a judicial murder for supporting a united Pakistan in 1971”.

Shortly before the meeting, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu revealed to journalists that the foreign office would protest the Pakistan NA move and statement of the interior minister.

"The statement of the Pakistan National Assembly shows that the country has not corrected itself and moved away from its 1971 policy," Inu said.

Denouncing the country's stance on the execution of war criminal Mollah, he said that Pakistan has acted beyond the diplomatic norms adopting the resolution.

"The trial of the war criminals will go on. No international conspiracy will be able to obstruct it," he insisted.

The Pakistan NA resolution reads: “This House expresses deep concern on hanging of a veteran politician of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh for supporting Pakistan in 1971."

The Pakistan NA expressed grief and sorrow for the bereaved family, and demanded Bangladesh avoid reviving the wounds of 1971 and amicably resolve cases against the Jamaat leaders in Bangladesh.