On 20 June 1971, Azam declared in Lahore that the Hindu minority in East Pakistan, under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, are conspiring to secede from Pakistan. On 12 August 1971, Azam declared in a statement published in the "Daily Sangram" that "the supporters of the Bangladesh Movement are the enemies of Islam, Pakistan, and Muslims". On his side, Azam denied all such accusations and challenged by giving reasons to justify them. However, he later admitted that he was on the list of collaborators of the Pakistani army, but denied he was a war criminal.