Punjab wants award for executed Jamaat leaders

The provincial assembly of Punjab has approved a resolution seeking conferment of Nishan-e-Pakistan, the highest civil award in Pakistan, on Bangladeshi leaders who were executed “for siding with Pakistan during 1971 Indo-Pak war”, reports dunyanews.tv of Pakistan.

A condemn resolution had also been moved in the provincial assembly after war criminal and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh chief Motiur Rehman Nizami was executed.

In the condemnation resolution, opposition leader Mehmoodur Rasheed demanded the government raise the issue before international human rights organisations. He argued against the executions stating that the Bangladesh government awarded “death penalties to Jamaat-e-Islami leaders for their love for Pakistan”, reports dunyanews.

Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq claimed that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was working on instructions of the Indian government, the TV station said on its website.

Sirajul had led funeral prayers in absentia of the Bangladesh chapter's leaders.

Diplomatic tension between Bangladesh and Pakistan rose significantly over the war crimes tribunal issue.

Bangladesh had asked Pakistan not to interfere in its internal affairs, like trials for crimes against humanity. The country had also asked Pakistan “to stop misinterpreting” the 1974 tripartite agreement signed by Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.