Presidential mercy for war criminals will stay

The Charter will not be amended amid widespread calls for a change to deny war crimes convicts presidential pardon in future. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ruled out any such amendment to the Constitution in near future. Her remarks on Thursday poured cold water on the demands from a large section of the people for a change to the article that stems from the fear that those committed crimes against humanity in 1971 may get presidential clemency if a party in their favour comes to power in future. The demand to amend the Constitution’s Article 49 gained support after Jamaat-e-Islami leader war crimes convict Delwar Hossain Sayedee's capital punishment sentence was reduced to ‘imprisonment until death’. Responding to question on Thursday, PM Hasina said: ‘This is the President’s power. This can stay. We (the government) run the country. The President may keep some power to ensure the basic rights of the citizens,’ according to a news agency.