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Today's Paper | April 28, 2024

Updated 23 Nov, 2017 06:34pm

Pakistan concerned as Bangladesh hands six JI leaders death penalty

The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday expressed Pakistan's reservations over the death sentences handed to six Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) leaders by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal on Wednesday for committing crimes against humanity during the 1971 war.

According to The Daily Star, the six men were identified as Abu Saleh Muhammad Abdul Aziz Mia, Ruhul Amin, Abu Muslim Muhammad Ali, Abdul Latif, Najmul Huda and Abdur Rahim Mia. Latif is imprisoned, whereas the other five accused are absconding.

The accused were facing charges of looting and killing a Hindu man, killing a Chhatra League leader and killing 13 chairmen and members of five unions, The Daily Star report said, adding that they had been indicted by the tribunal on June 28, 2016.

FO Spokesperson Dr Faisal at a weekly briefing in Islamabad today also expressed concern over growing opium production in Afghanistan]3 which, he said, provides financial support to terrorists.

Dr Faisal said that 43 per cent of Afghanistan's land is under the control of terrorist organisations, including the militant Islamic State (IS) group. He added that the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) and IS are using Afghan soil for attacks in Pakistan.

The FO said it was looking into India's request of granting a visa to Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav's mother, in addition to that of his wife, Faisal said.

After the convicted spy's wife was allowed to meet her husband on humanitarian grounds, India sought an additional visa for his mother last week.

Read more: India wants Kulbhushan's mother to accompany wife for proposed meeting with spy

The FO spokesperson condemned the arrest of Hurriyat leaders and fake encounters in India-held Kashmir, calling on human rights defenders to stand up for the rights of Kashmiris.

He also briefed journalists on United States Secretary of Defence James Mattis upcoming visit Pakistan, saying that Mattis was expected in the coming weeks in order to discuss regional and international issues.

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