War crimes: SC defers hearing on Azharul’s review petition to Feb 20

The Supreme Court today deferred the date to February 20 the hearing of the review petition filed by Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam, challenging the verdict that upheld his death sentence in a war crimes case.

A full bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed was scheduled to hold hearing of the review petition today. But the bench passed the deferment order as a judge of the bench is on a leave, Advocate Mohammad Shishir, a lawyer for Azharul, told The Daily Star.

Barrister Abdur Razzaq, Barrister Ehsan A Siddiq and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir appeared for Azharul at the court.

On October 31, 2019, the Appellate Division upheld the verdict delivered by International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1), which sentenced Azharul to death for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.

Azharul subsequently filed a review petition with the apex court, challenging its verdict.

On December 30, 2014, ICT-1 had found Azharul, the assistant secretary general of Jamaat, guilty and sentenced him to death.

Azharul then filed the appeal with the SC challenging the verdict where he claimed innocence and prayed to the Appellate Division to acquit him of the charges.