Pakistani parliament concern over Islamist leader execution in Bangladesh

Pakistani parliament on Monday adopted a resolution with majority vote, expressing concerns over the execution of Abdul Qadir Mullah, the leader of Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Bangladesh. Mullah was hanged last Thursday over alleged war crimes in 1971, when Bangladesh separated from Pakistan as an independent country. The resolution moved by Jamaat member Sher Akbar Khan in the National Assembly, or lower house of the parliament, also expressed condolences to family members of Abdul Qadir Mullah. The House urged the Bangladeshi government not to resurrect the 1971 incident and end all cases against leaders of JI Bangladesh with the spirit of understanding. Two opposition groups Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) also supported the resolution. However, the main opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and two other opposition groups namely the Mutahida Qaumi Movement and Awami National Party did not support the resolution. Abdul Sattar Bachani of PPP said the issue pertains to an independent and sovereign country and "we should not interfere in the internal affairs of Bangladesh." The Pakistani Foreign Ministry has come up with a careful reaction to the execution in Bangladesh, saying Pakistan is closely following the political developments as they unfold inside Bangladesh. "While it is not Pakistan's policy to interfere in the affairs of any country, we have noted the concerns raised by the international community and human rights organizations on the way recent trials have been conducted which have added to the current instability in Bangladesh," a Foreign Ministry statement said. "We wish the brotherly people of Bangladesh well and hope that spirit of reconciliation and an atmosphere, free of violence, will prevail," it said.