A war crimes case against Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam steps into the next stage as the defence yesterday completed cross-examination of the last prosecution witness at the International Crimes Tribunal-1.

The defence usually produce their witnesses to defend their client after examination of prosecution witnesses. Both the defence and the prosecution then place arguments on the evidence. Once the argument is over, the tribunal keeps the case, which begins with a filing of formal charges, waiting for verdict.

The defence yesterday submitted a list of 15 witnesses to testify for Azharul, while the prosecution filed a petition praying to the tribunal not to allow the witnesses.

The three-member tribunal chaired by Justice M Enayetur Rahim fixed today for hearing the arguments of both prosecution and defence in this regard.

The tribunal yesterday also expressed dissatisfaction over unnecessary questions asked by defence counsel Abdus Subhan Tarafder of the last prosecution witness and investigation officer of the case during cross-examination.

In reply to a question, investigation officer SM Idris Ali said Azharul had filled in his HSC examination form but

could not confirm if the accused had passed the exam.

Ali, however, said Azharul had obtained a master's degree from Dhaka University.

Azharul faces six charges of murder, genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War in 1971. He was present in the dock yesterday.

ABDUL JABBAR'S CASE

The tribunal fixed tomorrow to pass an order on initiation of war crimes case against former Jatiya Party lawmaker Abdul Jabbar in absentia.

War crimes suspect Jabbar, now 82, as the chairman of Mathbaria Peace Committee "played a key role" in the formation of the Razakar force there and "led it" to commit crimes during the war.

The prosecution has brought five charges against him for killing, mass killing, looting and forced conversion in Pirojpur.

A probe report notes that he was allegedly involved in killing 36 people, looting and destroying 557 houses and forcing 200 Hindus to convert to Islam.

He was elected lawmaker from Mathbaria in 1986 and 1988 on a Jatiya Party ticket but retired from politics later.

The tribunal yesterday also fixed August 31 to pass an order on a contempt petition filed against a reporter of the daily Kaier Kantho.