Quasem wants more time to mull mercy

Condemned war criminal Mir Quasem Ali wants more time to decide on presidential pardon, a prison official said today.

That was his response when authorities asked his decision around 10:45am today, Prashanta Kumar Banik, senior jail superintendent of Kashimpur jail, told The Daily Star.

According to his wife, Quasem is waiting for his son to return after being picked up by 'unidentified men' three weeks ago before deciding on taking the last straw that can save him from gallows.

After the Supreme Court dismissed Quasem's petition seeking review of death for war crimes, there is now no bar to proceed with his execution.

The full text of the order has been read out to Quasem in Kashimpur. Yesterday, he told his family that he will not decide on seeking clemency until his son returns home.