MUZAFFARABAD: Demonstrations were held in all major towns of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) under the aegis of Jamaat-i-Islami to condemn the hanging of Bangladesh Jamaat-i-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami by the Bangladesh government.

“Silence of the international community and indifference of Pakistani rulers towards a series of hangings of JI leaders in Bangladesh is shameful,” said JI AJK chief Abdul Rashid Turabi at a rally in Bagh.

He claimed that legal circles of the entire world had rejected constitution of the so-called war tribunals after 45 years, but nevertheless Dhaka had not ceased ‘judicial killings’.

“The JI leaders are being persecuted for fighting for defence of a united Pakistan along with armed forces. They did not commit any treason. In fact the treason was committed by those who fought along with the Indian army,” he said.

According to him, executions were a violation of an agreement between Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Sheikh Mujeeb that cases regarding incidents of 1971 would not be pursued.

“The Bangladesh government is conspiring against Pakistan and its armed forces in collusion with India. Decisions are being written in New Delhi and announced in Dhaka,” Mr Turabi said, adding that political and military leadership of Pakistan had failed to get these steps stopped.

Similar views were expressed by speakers at a rally in Muzaffarabad, which marched through the main road outside the press club.

Participants of the rally chanted slogans against the Bangladesh government, which they described as India’s stooge.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2016