ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Monday described the capital punishment of Bangladesh Jamaat-i-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla as a “judicial murder” as the National Assembly adopted a resolution expressing concern over the incident.

The resolution, moved by JI member Sher Akbar Khan, was adopted with a majority vote.

“This House expresses deep concern on hanging of a veteran politician of Jamaat-i-Islami Bangladesh for supporting Pakistan in 1971,” said the resolution moved by Sher Akbar Khan.

The House expressed grief and sorrow with the bereaved family and demanded to avoid reviving the wounds of 1971 and amicably resolve cases against Bangladeshi leaders of Jamaat-i-Islami.

Earlier, speaking on a point of order in the National Assembly, Nisar said that Abdul Quader Molla “was hanged through a judicial murder for supporting a united Pakistan in 1971”.

The minister said Abdul Quader Molla remained patriotic to pre-1971 Pakistan and his hanging has once again reminded Pakistanis of the wounds of separation of East Pakistan.

He said the government fully supports the resolution prepared by the JI, as this incident is an eye opener for the Pakistani nation and leadership.

“We claim to have democracy in the country but are still far off democratic attitudes and approaches. We need to learn as a nation from debacles like the separation of East Pakistan”.

He expressed grief and sorrow with the Bangladeshi nation and followers of Abdul Quader Molla.

The minister however clarified that Pakistan respects the sovereignty of Bangladesh, but the execution of Abdul Quader Molla was on the basis of charges leveled against him to support a united Pakistan.

“I believed that people will not politick on a judicial murder. It is our tradition that we forget our bitterness when somebody dies or is killed,” Nisar said.

PPP and MQM members had spoken against the resolution.The interior minister however said that there is nothing against the sovereignty of Bangladesh in the resolution.