Islamabad: Pakistan said the death sentence for former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is an internal matter for Bangladesh. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stressed that the people of Bangladesh are fully capable of handling their own issues through democratic and constitutional processes.
Hasina was sentenced on Monday by a Bangladeshi court for ordering a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising last year. The verdict comes months ahead of parliamentary elections expected in February. She had resigned and fled to India 15 months ago during the unrest that left hundreds dead.
Read more: Bangladesh ex-PM Hasina sentenced to death for crimes
The International Crimes Tribunal, originally set up by Hasina to try war crimes from Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war, delivered the sentence. The ruling marks a dramatic twist in Hasina’s political career, which began decades ago when she survived the 1975 coup by being abroad.
Bangladesh urged India to extradite Hasina, citing a binding treaty, but New Delhi has so far refused, emphasizing its commitment to Bangladesh’s peace, democracy, and stability.
Read more: Bangladesh court sentences ex-PM Sheikh Hasina to death
The development coincides with a thaw in Pakistan-Bangladesh relations, as trade and bilateral ties have shown improvement in recent months.