Get ready for tougher movement against war crimes trial

Jamaat asks dist chiefs

17 April 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Jamaat-e-Islami has instructed the chiefs of all its district units to get prepared for waging a tougher movement against the government bid to try war criminals since it is intended only to "destroy the party." The instruction was given at a conference of Jamaat's district unit ameers (chiefs) in the capital on Friday. Speakers at the conference said the government move has thrown top leaders of Jamaat in a crisis. And the party has no alternative but to go for a movement since the government is not allowing it also to hold rallies and pursue political activities, they said. About 78 district unit ameers attended the day-long conference. "We have told them [district ameers] that trial of war criminals is simply intended to destroy Jamaat. Our party sided with Pakistan during the Liberation War on 1971 but none of the party leaders were involved in war crimes," a senior Jamaat leader told The Daily Star yesterday. "In the present situation, we have our backs against the wall and the party's top leaders therefore called upon district ameers to get prepared for a tougher movement," he said. Jamaat high-ups told the conference the party welcomed liberation of the country, and since then it is working for welfare of the people, meeting sources said.