Detailed inquiry needed against Ghulam Azam: Law Minister

Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed Tuesday dismissed the notion that the prosecution has failed to prepare proper charge sheet against former Jama'at chief Ghulam Azam for committing crimes against humanity in 1971 as the International Crimes Tribunal declined to take it into cognizance, reports UNB. Responding to reporters' queries, Mr Ahmed said the court has jurisdiction to seek fresh investigation report for the convenience of the trial. He said if charge is properly prepared it would help both the court and lawyers in the trial process. In reply to a question the Law Minister said detailed investigation is needed against Ghulam Azam as he held meetings across the country during the liberation war in 1971 that had led to the occurrence of various criminal offences. On Monday the tribunal declined to take into cognizance the charges made against Ghulam Azam as the prosecution failed to prepare it 'properly'. The tribunal in its orders said: "After perusing the formal charges, the investigation report along with relevant papers and documents appeared to have been prepared in a scattered way and those are not in form and set in order."