Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The recent trials in Bangladesh are a violation of the 1974 agreement signed among Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, the Senate’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs was informed on Thursday.

Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan could not directly contact the Bangladeshi government over the trials. “However, it (the Bangladeshi government) was contacted through different forums such as OIC, the UN and others. Pakistan wants cordial relations with Bangladesh, but the trials and sentences are not right,” he said.

According to the agreement, both Pakistan and Bangladesh would not take action against any person who took part on either side during the war. The present government in Bangladesh is vigorously pursuing alleged ‘war crimes’ of 1971. The war crimes tribunal set up by the Bangladeshi government has so for convicted 50 persons. Out of them, 28 have been sentenced to death. Various international and regional organisations and countries have raised questions and concerns over the trials in Bangladesh from time to time.

“After the passage of 40 years, hangings of aged persons in Bangladesh is totally against the 1974 agreement,” said Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry. He was responding to a question raised by Pakistan People’s Party’s Senator Karim Ahmad Khawaja.

“Several governments have come into power in Bangladesh since 1971 and they did not initiate such trials. The current government in Bangladesh has now even convicted people who were studying abroad during the 1971 war,” he said. Chaudhry said that the ongoing trials in Bangladesh were politically motivated and had no justification.

The committee expressed satisfaction over the efforts of the Foreign Office for highlighting the Kashmir issue at international level. The prime minister’s visit to the UN General Assembly and meetings held on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly Session have proved helpful in this regard, the committee stated.

Committee Chairperson Senator Nuzhat Sadiq said that efforts of the Foreign Office were commendable and the recent arrangements made by the Foreign Ministry to highlight the Kashmir issue at international level had received an overwhelming response and acknowledgement. She also praised the efforts of the special envoys deputed in various countries to highlight the atrocities being committed by India in held Kashmir.

Chaudhry said that Indian forces had resorted to brutal measures in Indian Occupied Kashmir after the martyrdom of Burhan Wani on July 8, 2016. “Wani’s martyrdom has fuelled a new wave of commitment in the Kashmiri people, who are demanding their inalienable right of self-determination, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions,” he said.

The foreign secretary said more than 115 innocent people had lost their lives, whereas more than 15,000 had been injured so far. “The victims of indiscriminate firing, include women, children, and the elderly. More than 700 people have suffered severe eye injuries due to pellet guns and more than 150 have become permanently blind. To divert international attention from the grim situation in held-Kashmir, the Indian government is using various tactics,” he said.

Chaudhry briefed the committee about the prime minister’s visit to UN General Assembly session. “The prime minister addressed the General Assembly and other high level meetings to draw the attention of the international community towards massive human rights violation and atrocities being committed by Indian forces against the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The PM also held meetings with several world leaders and the UN secretary general on the sidelines of the summit,” he said.

The committee was briefed about Pakistan’s relations with South Asian countries. It was informed that Pakistan desired strong mutual cooperation with South Asian countries and intended to build on this cooperation. “Pakistan continues to hold its affiliation with SAARC in high esteem,” the committee members were informed.

Senator Mushahid Hussain and Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq informed the committee about their recent visits to the US and France as special envoys.