Jamaat will face GATCO case legally, politically: Nizami
Sunday, 18 May 2008
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami who has been charge-sheeted as an accused in the GATCO corruption case said Saturday that his party would resort to both legal and political means to fight against the case he termed was politically motivated.
"When the court proceedings start, my lawyers and the party will definitely face it legally. But since it does not seem merely to be a legal matter, rather politically motivated, the political workers will obviously face it politically as well," he said.
Talking to UNB at Jamaat's central office, Mr Nizami claimed himself to be above any corruption or irregularity while holding the post of agriculture and industry minister .
The Jamaat chief, said he had no involvement in any corruption . "My only offence is I was a member of the purchase committee. I have no other offence."
Last Thursday a metropolitan court issued arrest warrants against 12 'absconding accused', including Mr Nizami and four other Cabinet ministers of the four-party alliance government, in the GATCO scam case principally pressed against detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
Mr Nizami said his name was not on the first information report (FIR) but was included later on.
"What is most painful is I was shown absconding in a disgusting way. This is a blatant falsehood, which does not suit the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC)."
Mr Nizami said none could raise the allegation of corruption or irregularity during his 20 months as agriculture minister and 40 months as industry minister. A corrupt person cannot run a ministry transparently. Even such charge did not come 16 months into the State of Emergency period.
He said different agencies and media tried to detect irregularities by looking through microscope but they failed. Similarly, there is no evidence of corruption against Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujaheed who was the social welfare minister.
Asked when he plans to go to court, Mr Nizami said he would act on the advice of his lawyers.
Asked about Jamaat's stance on the government-proposed dialogue, Mr Nizami said there is no indication from the government to create an enabling environment to make the dialogue fruitful through participation of all parties.
"I like to say in clear terms our party view is that this government is backed by the army. Army is the symbol of the nation's independence and sovereignty. Failure of this government will have far-reaching effect."
Mr Nizami said the only responsibility of the caretaker government is to hold a credible election to parliament with the participation of all political parties.
By realising the reality, he said, the government should release all political leaders, including the two top leaders-Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.
He said the government must refrain from arresting politicians afresh. Otherwise, it would not be possible to hold an election participated by all.
"When the court proceedings start, my lawyers and the party will definitely face it legally. But since it does not seem merely to be a legal matter, rather politically motivated, the political workers will obviously face it politically as well," he said.
Talking to UNB at Jamaat's central office, Mr Nizami claimed himself to be above any corruption or irregularity while holding the post of agriculture and industry minister .
The Jamaat chief, said he had no involvement in any corruption . "My only offence is I was a member of the purchase committee. I have no other offence."
Last Thursday a metropolitan court issued arrest warrants against 12 'absconding accused', including Mr Nizami and four other Cabinet ministers of the four-party alliance government, in the GATCO scam case principally pressed against detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
Mr Nizami said his name was not on the first information report (FIR) but was included later on.
"What is most painful is I was shown absconding in a disgusting way. This is a blatant falsehood, which does not suit the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC)."
Mr Nizami said none could raise the allegation of corruption or irregularity during his 20 months as agriculture minister and 40 months as industry minister. A corrupt person cannot run a ministry transparently. Even such charge did not come 16 months into the State of Emergency period.
He said different agencies and media tried to detect irregularities by looking through microscope but they failed. Similarly, there is no evidence of corruption against Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujaheed who was the social welfare minister.
Asked when he plans to go to court, Mr Nizami said he would act on the advice of his lawyers.
Asked about Jamaat's stance on the government-proposed dialogue, Mr Nizami said there is no indication from the government to create an enabling environment to make the dialogue fruitful through participation of all parties.
"I like to say in clear terms our party view is that this government is backed by the army. Army is the symbol of the nation's independence and sovereignty. Failure of this government will have far-reaching effect."
Mr Nizami said the only responsibility of the caretaker government is to hold a credible election to parliament with the participation of all political parties.
By realising the reality, he said, the government should release all political leaders, including the two top leaders-Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.
He said the government must refrain from arresting politicians afresh. Otherwise, it would not be possible to hold an election participated by all.