The Verdict
Does Mumtaz Qadri deserve to die?

Does Mumtaz Qadri deserve to die?

I do not want to turn into someone who celebrates death - but Qadri would be my pick for the sentence.

Zahra Peer Mohammed October 01, 2011

"Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, the self-confessed murderer of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, has been sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court today"reads the latest breaking news.

Ten months after he drilled Salmaan Taseer's body with 25 bullets for the 'crime' of supporting Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman accused of blasphemy Qadri has been sentenced.

The former governor's killer had been regaled as a hero and showered with rose petals. YouTube videos of him defending his actions turned the stomach. What kind of man would do this I wondered? Kill an innocent man and then proudly recite naats as if he was one of God's chosen ones?

Is he a man who deserves to die?

I have seen the Taseer family wait patiently for some form of justice to be served for their father. They have watched while religious leaders discussed the blasphemy law on television. And they continue to wait while their son Shahbaz Taseer remains missing, today.

In true Hollywood fashion the Taseers have come to symbolize a spirit of resistance in the face of suffocating hopelessness. They have bravely spoken out against injustice and have refused to abandon their country. It is this family that has always stood up and supported what is right, no matter what the consequences be. Their fight has become our fight, their enemy has become our enemy.

And Mumtaz Qadri is the man that attacked them.

So, naturally when I heard this verdict in the morning my first instinct was to celebrate. After all, justice has been served. But when I stared receiving texts that said:

"Yay"

"I'm so happy"

I had to reconsider.

My inner-hypocrite demands an eye for an eye but deeper inside I can't bring myself to blind the world for a vengeful justice. Perhaps life imprisonment, is only appealing to my humanist mind and would not work in a country like Pakistan, where criminals can find numerous ways to escape. I realize this is a country where, as I write, men rot in jail for no reason greater than that of the fact that those in power do not like them.

I am not here to condemn the verdict or to offer another verdict; let me clarify that I am happy that justice is being served.

However, I can’t help but wonder, do two negatives make a positive?

This war will continue for much longer than we would like and I do not want to turn in to someone who celebrates death. Someone who thinks they know who deserves to die. Someone like Mumtaz Qadri.

Although I am fiercely opposed to the death sentence, if I had a choice to send one person to the gallows, Qadri would, most definitely, be my choice. I am very happy for the Taseer family, for they have borne more than their share of suffering. I ardently hope that they receive more good news and that Shahbaz Taseer returns home.

WRITTEN BY:
Zahra Peer Mohammed Former Blogs Desk Head and Senior Sub-Editor at The Express Tribune. She is a business graduate from the Queen's School of Business who tweets @ZahraPeer (https://twitter.com/ZahraPeer). She blogs at zahrapeer.wordpress.com

The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

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COMMENTS (126)

Basharit | 13 years ago | Reply @imran: Not until its called the Islamic Republic he will NEVER be hanged!

imran | 13 years ago | Reply YES 100%

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bin saud | 13 years ago | Reply hmm well Pakistan suffers from less information of religion and technology not to mention its weak knowledge about the globe, firstly even if this was Saudi Qadri would have been beheaded , according to law no one ,NO ONE, can take laws in to hands, many people confuse Qadri with the Davis case ,by the ways Islam allows blood money ,if money is accepted the culprit will be forgiven , so go catch the family who toke the heavy amount with American visas and let Davis go, mullahs have always been a problem to all civilizations weather Muslims Jews or Christians,, even kafirs like Hindus suffer from they religious leaders harassment, ,for example Our beloved Prophet was also harassed by them ,,same as the Christians prophet was trailed by Jewish mullahs,.,,and to the guy who says no Pakistani court will sentence him? wake up dude and smell the dengue air around u,,another punishment not by AMERICA but by Allah ,like we blame America for everything but what about the costs of items in the month of Ramadan,,,reform yourself before pakistan suffers ,u blame the elite class? for your kind information rich and poor are every where even in USA, it just depends on what Allah gives u.. and trust me he knows who to give,,for if people like u got then it would be the end of the world,,by the ways according to the Quran u aint allowed to sing and pray,,qadris have a worm up that tickles them to sing and pray,,mazars are considered shireek ,so whom are u kidding? eating sute(interest) is haram according to the Quran whom ever eats sute need not ask forgiveness coz they never will be forgiven,,99% everyone eats sute even by the savings accounts in banks,,so mister know everything learn Islam get a college degree ,and go to Jordon and learn the real religion, Qadri is a fool and he may end up free i dont disagree but where? Waziristan ,,in exchange for taseers son well,,what happens next? killed by a drone? thats whats gonna happen to the fool,,remember u can cover your butt as much as you want but when the time comes men like laden got it ,,big people like sadam and qadafi went down,,your thinking is too small ,,u would be a person to condemn lal masjid too,what did u expect? the president to hand over Islamabad to that mullah? a man who cares less for his country cares nothing for his religion,and about your soo called gareeb people,,with the large worms burning tires and crying all the time,,keep going on about this and that ,,i m soo sick of listening to a whole lot of humbug ,,Qadri will hang? don't know,, will be killed? Defiantly ,,u live by the sword u will die by it,,and by the way stop listening to fruit men who grow beards and become mullahs , go to Arabia and listen to Islamic graduates who become mullahs,,

csmann | 13 years ago | Reply @basharit: if i say that by implicating quran and the nabi as condoning murder,you are comitting blasphemy,should you be murdered. and implying that jinnah and allma iqbal condoned murder by defending a client,then you are defaming the very foundation of pakistan

csmann | 13 years ago | Reply @basharit: by implicating that quran shareef condones or orders killing strengthens the notion of the rest of the world that quran shareef teaches violence.even people that are leaning towards a fair view of the islam get turned off by people like you,and islam-bashers get a new tool to thrash muslims with.

basharit | 13 years ago | Reply @Mohsin Shekhani: Unfortunately when the rule of law has failed, which it clearly has in Pakistan when it comes to the feelings of millions of Muslims. What other option does one have? The comparison between Tasser and any other death is a foolish one, the reason for his death is paramount in this case. I refer you to the case of Ghazi IlmaDeen Shaheed. If Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Alama Iqbal did not feel it inappropriate to defend this great warrior. I see no reason why I cannot voice my defense for Mumtaz Qadri.

Mohsin Shekhani | 13 years ago | Reply @Basharit: You are saying that if someone kills a member of your family he would become a hero for you and he should not be given a death penalty for taking law into his hands. I bet you would be the first one to ask for justice and make sure that person gets death penalty. Secondly no matter what ever Salman Taseer said, Mumtaz Qadri had no right to kill him. And he should be hanged as well for taking the law into his own hands.

csmann | 13 years ago | Reply @Mohsin: the first time i read ur post,i was surprised that mohsin,the rabid,has a heart after all;see , ' I presumed that you have meant that the precedent will be bad because every citizen will take the law his/her hand; how foolish of me.What you were meaning to say was that it should be a precedent for every citizen to take the law into his hands and be the judge and executioner by himself.Bravo,nice way to go.Now minorties are in near trouble specifically ahmadis;god save pakistan!!

Mohsin | 13 years ago | Reply If Qadri is executed, this will make him hero and there will be widespread protests. If he is spared than that will be the murder of justice. It will set precedent by which every citizen will be a judge and executioner of a presumed blasphemous. The murder of Salman Taseer was not out of love of Prophet but sheer ignorance of Islam. Salman's championing of human rights and protection of minorities was in fact mere politics and an attempt to win sympathies of so-called liberals. In the end, we all are losers.

basharit | 13 years ago | Reply As expected the execution is put on hold pending the appeal, Long live Mumtaz Qadri no matter how much you liberals scream and shout NO-ONE will hang the peoples hero.

Asma S | 13 years ago | Reply One does not have the right to take law in one's hand. This inhumane fanatic must be punished for the crime/sin he has committed in Qisas (badla). He must be hanged to death and made an example for all lose-minded people, who have misinterpreted teachings of Islam and have given it a bad name.

shahid | 13 years ago | Reply Mumtaz Qadri is a bloody murderer, who has committed a crime and accepted it. Convict him, dont waste time. We want justice.

basharit | 13 years ago | Reply @Raja Islam: so what your saying from your knowledge or lack off is the Holy Quran does not say anything about someone who commits blasphemy. I think that ends my discussion with you because in my opinion the Holy Quran has the answer to every question.

csmann | 13 years ago | Reply i think the wrong issues are being indulged in ;the mullahs ,rather than shouting and disrupting people's lives, should have sat down to discuss the limits of blasphemy law;otherwise people will keep on killing other people on flimsiest of excuses,like this case here;is it a blasphemy to help a poor woman,to help advance her mercy plea to the president , by a governor of the concerned state?is it a blasphemy to disagree on a law,that they don't find is right,as is already shown in many cases?the death-penalty issue should be left for the courts to decide.What about other peoples' rahbars/gods?especially the ones like Isa Masih who is mentioned in the quraan as nabies?Is it lesser crime to ridicule or not hold sacred other peoples' teachers or hold them less respectable than one's own?these are the kinds of issues which should have been discussed rather than hold the judiciary of your own country hostage .strong text

Naveed Salman | 13 years ago | Reply I am against death penalty, but whatever is the law of land should be followed and it should not be molded for just one special person. Either death penalty should be abolished for everyone and every punishment including the most abused blasphemy law (and Aasia Bibi shouldn't be hanged if convicted guilty), or if it has to stay then it should stay for everyone everyone who is accused guilty including Mumtaz Qadri should be hanged.

Raja Islam | 13 years ago | Reply @basharit: As far as I know nothing. All these so called blasphemy laws are man made by religious fanatics who want to push people around by threat of death. I am sorry for someone like you who thinks that it is all right to commit murder whatever the reason. If you think that committing murder is a direct path to heaven then please go ahead and do so; I am sure you will find out where it leads you.

rohail | 13 years ago | Reply May God save Pakistan from religious and liberal extremists, i am worried that soon we'll be persuaded to choose between the leftist and the rightist. God bless Pakistan

basharit | 13 years ago | Reply @Raja Islam: maybe you can share what islam has taught us about dealing with people who have commited blasphemy?

Raja Islam | 13 years ago | Reply @basharit: The Quran does not say that if someone believes that blasphemy has been committed, then he should go and kill the alleged perpetrator. Let us see you tell us where it is written; assuming that you can read and understand the Quran.

Karachi Feminist | 13 years ago | Reply I consider what Mumtaz Qadri did to be a heinous crime and one of the most serious -- murder, and that too motivated by ideological reasons. The victim was the governor of Punjab who in furtherance of his public duty had met a woman convicted under the state's discriminatory blasphemy laws. Nevertheless, Qadri should not be executed as the death penalty must be opposed on all accounts. There should be a special onus on us to resist the temptation to punish someone for their ideology, however repugnant we may find that ideology. People must unequivocally reject the death penalty, specially as applied in Pakistan. Liberals who say they are against the penalty, but then go on to assert that they would support it in Qadri's case, as an exception, have no ground to stand on. I believe Salman Taseer's family may be justified in feeling that only death will avenge them. But it is a fallacy to think all victims' families want to see blood. Amanda and Nick Wilcox (1), in the U.S., lost their daughter and maintained their once theoretical stance against the death penalty. If the desire for revenge was so ingrained in our psyche, many countries would not have abolished the death penalty. If there is no option for the death penalty, people would modify their expectations, and gradually rid the state of its taste of choreographed murder -- the dreadful march from courtroom to prison to the noose. http://lurkinginambush.blogspot.com/2011/10/let-qadri-live.html

baqar | 13 years ago | Reply For once in life...hang the murderer....let the justice prevail

Hina Mussarat | 13 years ago | Reply If he wants "heaven" then he must be ready to die. Those who want heaven must be ready to embrace death. It is God to decide where he will dump them. Hina Canada

Danyal | 13 years ago | Reply i dont think juidiciary should hang him because he is already precieved as a hero in some peoples eyes and if they hang him people are not going to learn a lesson and is going to be precieved as even bigger hero instead they should imprison him for the rest of his life so he thinks about what he has done every single day of his life and rots in prison

Basharit | 13 years ago | Reply @Raja Islam: Without any shadow of a doubt blasphemy is worse.

Raja Islam | 13 years ago | Reply @Adnan Shahid: What is worse saying something that is construed to be blasphemy or killing someone?

csmann | 13 years ago | Reply The trouble with muslims (not islam) is that the pacifists and murderers both think they are acting according to islamic law.This discrepency has to be solved by religious scholars sooner or later;but on the other hand,so called scholars especially low-rung mullahs work more on passion than by reason,and that flows on to general masses;when murderers start thinking,they can override a law by being violent,it becomes a precedent for criminally-minded people to do whatever they want to,without facing the consequences.There is already a blasphemy law(wrong though it is) law to deal with so-called blasphemers;why ,then, qadri has to take the law into his own hands;if he has,and he gloats about it too,he should face the consequences.His being punished will be the only face-saving gesture for islam and pakistan .

Samina Faisal | 13 years ago | Reply The Taseer family has been under great pressure for the last nine months since Mr Taseer was assassinated. It has now been over a month since Shahbaz Taseer, son of late Salmaan Taseer, was kidnapped by unknown men in Lahore. To put further pressure on them under such circumstances is part of tested tactics of the religious right to function on the basis of intimidation and pressure. A spurious campaign against the slain governor was initiated by religious clerics and right wing fanatics all over the country, which ultimately led to his assassination. The Punjab government should prevent such hate-mongering rallies in the province. Though the Punjab government is known to be soft on the religious right either because of being their sympathisers or fear, it is their duty to stop these fanatical elements. Members of the Tahafuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat Mahaz and other such organisations that gave open threats to Judge Shah and other government functionaries should be hauled up immediately. It is because of the lukewarm response of the Punjab Government that Salman Taseer was assassinated by his security guard in broad day light and later his son was abducted that is still clueless. Mian Brothers just want to champion the race of accusations and slogans and practically doing nothing.

Neutral | 13 years ago | Reply My answer: Yes; he took law in his hand. Islamic Justification: He was "Ameen" (Amanatdar) for the life of Mr. Taseer since he was body guard but he did "Khayanat". He should be punished on double accounts.

Pakistani | 13 years ago | Reply totally agree with VOice of reason !!!!!

FAK | 13 years ago | Reply If you were told that all cats can cause cancer and there was no research published on it, would there be a single cat living near you??? If you are made to believe this since childhood, people and their laws can't stop you from killing cats. Qadri believed something, he just followed it. What would you do if you were in Qadri's place?

Hameed ur rehman SuROOR | 13 years ago | Reply Mumtaz Qadri Deserve Death Thausands of time

KolachiMom | 13 years ago | Reply Ah lovely to see the "educated" religious fanatics join in this discussion, and defend their murderous hero. Borrowing from a wonderful religion to feed their extremist cult mentality, and ruining it for everyone else.

Ghazala Kazi | 13 years ago | Reply @VoiceOfReason says: " Qadri is like Robin Hood for ordinary Pakistanis, who work for their daily livelihood, and those who do not commit blasphemy (as Late (Obnoxious) Salman Taseer (May he rest in peace) did)." If above is the voice of reason from Pakistan then I see no hope for the country. This extremist attitude has engulfed the nation. Anyone can be labeled as committing blasphemy, it is a license to kill.

basharit | 13 years ago | Reply @Marvi: The majority agree with you, let the liberal elite scream and shout but i think they know there place by now.

basharit | 13 years ago | Reply @Ali haider: Maybe you could enlighten all of us with proof from the Quran and Sunnah what should happen to someone who commits blasphemy?

Gullible Nomore | 13 years ago | Reply No one deserves to die!

Ali haider | 13 years ago | Reply He was out of mind. . . And should be hanged. These people have no knowledge of actual islam and they act like the owners of this religion, making thier own laws. Not even a single place in quraan or hadith its ordered to kill someone on blasphemy and by the way Taseer did not do blasphemy.

Raja Islam | 13 years ago | Reply The question here should not be about happiness with the verdict or revenge. The important thing is the facts. Qadri committed a murder, he has been convicted and sentenced under the laws of the land and should be punished. The death sentence should be carried out asap so as to show others what would happen to them if they did the same thing. Examples need to be set.

Raja Islam | 13 years ago | Reply @Marvi: What a load of crap. All blasphemy laws by definition are repressive and must be abolished. If your faith is so weak that hearing anything contrary to your belief creates problems for you and you would like to kill the professor of the counter view then you really have a problem.

Raja Islam | 13 years ago | Reply @basharit: We dont hang the faithful but we do hang killers and terrorists.

Raja Islam | 13 years ago | Reply @Basharit: There is clearly something wrong with a society who wants a fanatic murderer freed.

syra | 13 years ago | Reply @Marium: its people like us , who love to stereo type every situation, ALL Lahore knows Shehbaz is kidnapped due to buisness conflicts... nothing to do with religious radicals this time.. please dont be a ( as they say ) 'Liberal Facist'

Atts | 13 years ago | Reply what i fail to understand is why is there such a hue n cry over his death sentence 'this life is temporary & the real life is hereafter", so on that note the death sentence is just taking the mumtaz qadri to the hereafter early ..... if he is such a hero then God can reward him there...... "bohat acha admi tha, Allah naik bandoon ko jald bula leta hai' then why are the fanatics so adamant that he live in this oh so sinful world ?? the court is just facilitating his early exit to a better world..... !

Simple approach | 13 years ago | Reply If you are even WONDERING that .... Does Mumtaz Qadri deserve to die? .. you probably already have a skewed view of the world... Asking that question also answers it at the same time. If you are having second thoughts about something so simple, clear and straightforward... well then lady, it should be better if you joined the mullah brigade or at least don't try and pretend to be an intellectual pondering your inner concious's little voices However, I can’t help but wonder, do two negatives make a positive? .. how about a few hundred wrongs.. all from one side...? (Muslims vs minorities).. why is it that no one thinks these things when the minorities are taking the heat and the punches. During those moments, any defenders of minorities are immediately labelled as liberals/Jewish lobbyists/capitalists...

qadri | 13 years ago | Reply he should be hang.

Haroon | 13 years ago | Reply @Basharit: and what about me endorsing what Taseer said and qadri killed him...? What would you do to all those who think the same...? Only blogging I guess...

Sana | 13 years ago | Reply @Marvi, it is comments of people like you that make me feel sick... May Qadri burn in life and burn in hell

Awais Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Taseer family will have to wait for justice, as there is still time till the final verdict comes in, as the decision will be challenged in higher courts.

buttjee | 13 years ago | Reply @okra: Qadri must be hanged because he took the law in his hand and killed a person. But to say that T aseer was innocent is not correct. In the opinion of many people like me, he was guilty of blasphemy to a certain extent.

BraveHeart | 13 years ago | Reply A person who labelled the islamic rule a Sh.. Rule u call him Shaheed for what? do the liberal even have a clue about who is shaheed and who is not? the liberals are a shame to Islam My message to Liberals go get some knowledge about Islam

DJ | 13 years ago | Reply It's great that such an obnoxious terrorist will be hanged...Congrats to all civilised humans.

Farrukh | 13 years ago | Reply Yes.hang qadri.....

-ive man | 13 years ago | Reply YES

Adnan Shahid | 13 years ago | Reply I am not agree with the decision of death of mumtaz qadri. If it happen then any one will commit blasphemy.

Zahid Suleman | 13 years ago | Reply Very happy with the decision, no body has the right to take another persons life, only God has that right. But very sad to see so many more "Mumtaz Qadris" are out there following a wrong path. our nation is totally divided into bits and pieces. We need to UNITE and understand the true essence of our Religion.

Fahad Raza | 13 years ago | Reply You have said what you want to.. I think Salmaan Taseer Malun deserved to die... Mumtaz did a Good thing....technically in a wrong way!! Other can have their own opinion GOD bless.

Ali Tanoli | 13 years ago | Reply This ashiq e rasool should live.

Marvi | 13 years ago | Reply NO! He doesn't deserve to be Hanged! what he did was absolutely right!!!!! No question about it! HE was right, right right!! He was member of the law enforcement agency, so he got the right to kill! People don't have any faith in Government, and if you disagree with me, then give me answer who is responsible for 100's of killing in Karachi every week or so!! People will only rely on Government when they know, they can trust thier Government!! But Alas Pakistani Goverenment is the worst one! And as far as Taseer is concerened, he was one backward person. He should have respected the feelings of millions of people! Even in simple Marketing, it is a common thing, that one size doens't fit all! Lets say, just for the sake of argument, that Taseer just wanted to point out the flaws in the Blasphemy law, then he must've kept in mind that ppl in Pakistan are Muslims, they are sufering from various problems, the way he described that was completly wrong, it could have hurt people. Taseer became so ARROGANT, that he has absolute power to say whatever he likes! So my friends in a democratic system, Government officials don't play with the feelings of their masses!!! He got what he deserved, and long live Qadri, and even if he will be hanged, he will directly go to Paradise, InshaAllah, Ameen. !!!!

European | 13 years ago | Reply I think, that opposition to the death penalty against Qadri and opposition towards the death penalty per se, are two different things. I am against the death penalty per se, but I think the judge made a just decision according to the law. The court cannot do away with with the death penalty per se, but only the parliament. As it is Pakistan's law that foresees the death penalty for such cases, the judge had no other choice than to apply it, if he didn't want to bend the law. We should not forget that Asia Bibi has been sentenced to death as well, though she has never been proven to commit blasphemy. It is a different case. Qadri has himself said very proudly that he killed ST, so the question was not if he did it, but what is the punishment for him according to Pakistani law. Aasia Bibi on the other hand was awarded the death penalty, although she never was proven to be guilty. So, we have three different things her: The question if death penalty is a good punishment all in all, the question to proof sb to be guilty (which was not a problem in Qadris case) and the question which penalty does the law foresee for a person who has been proven to be guilty. All the people here speaking against the death sentence against Qadri should ask themselves two questions: 1) Are you against the death penalty per se or only in this case? 2) If you are against the death penalty per se, why is the issue now suddenly your priority and not during all these years during which numerous people have been sentenced to death. 3) If you are not against the death penalty per se, but only of Qadri (and few other cases) ask yourself for which case this penalty would be more fit for him, who has proudly committed the murderer and never regretted it and where there is no doubt it was him. I am quite amazed that because Qadri there is suddenly a debate about the death penalty. There were much better incidents to discuss it. When Asia Bibi was sentenced to death, there was a discussion about the blasphemy law, but never about the death penalty per se. Astonishing, isn't it?

mehr | 13 years ago | Reply Zahra, i agree with your entire prespective, and also where you say that as a humanist should we be happy about the verdict. but perhaps, happy is too strong a word, it rather should be justice rightly served and a sense of satisfaction, that at least some sanity previals. following the postings in response to your blog, more or less everyone says the same. i couldn't for once trace any of the people writing something, which doesn't go with the teachings of our humanist religion. which provides many options for deterrence and punishment, however WE in our limited capacity think and conceive the worst only. though the judgement served, which still holds open the right to appeal, is very fair and just, but Qadri would soon be another "living Ghanzi" tuned "shaheed" very soon, and given the maddness of our political actors not too distant future will find some madcap politician rendering glorious tributes to him. lets see how far this all goes

Dr. A,K.Tewari | 13 years ago | Reply Since Quadri has done it for the want of 72 virgins and still will to go there and hence he should be send there at the earliest .

Uncle J | 13 years ago | Reply And what exactly is the point of this blog?

Alefiyah | 13 years ago | Reply This is a great piece and yes the Taseer's are an excellent example of what a true Pakistani should be like... Mumtaz Qadri is a brutal, insane killer who had no right to take law in his hands... Justice is being served finally !

Rashid | 13 years ago | Reply @Basharit I am an ordinary Pakistani Muslim and i want Qadri dead. Not only for his murder but also for maligning our religion.

Rashid | 13 years ago | Reply He is a proud killer. Nothing is more sickening that that. If Qadri has forgotten what it means to be human then no need to fell sorry for him. I will suggest a painful death for him. Call me whatever.

sars | 13 years ago | Reply i would not ordinarily support anyone to be killed no matter how heinous the crime but you have to understand life imprisonment doesnt mean anything in a country where people can attack jails, bargain for hostages and political parties can adhoc free people at whim. The only way to deter the terrible crime of taking a life (no matter what the justification)is to show the citizens that it comes with exemplary punishment.This is the reason why pakistanis routinely follow the law in saudia arabia.

Godfather | 13 years ago | Reply Capital punishment is "cruel and unusual punishment" supported only by cold blooded butchers. If Robert Kennedy's assassin could dodge death penalty, there should be no brouhaha over Qadri's death sentence being commuted to life.

Mariam | 13 years ago | Reply Yes, he does.

Palwesha | 13 years ago | Reply @salman qureshi:It's true that what happened to Salman Taseer was unequivocally a heinous crime steeped in ignorance and self-righteousness. However, research has long proven that capital punishment and other 'deterrent's as models for criminal law are ineffective. Basically, they don't deter crime, they do not work. In this case, MQ committed the crime without any thought to what the consequences were-this is the case for most violent crime. Contrary to popular belief, they are not always calculated and well thought out. They are committed in moments of haste and passion. It is ridiculous to think that giving him another punishment asides from the death penalty amounts to forgiveness-it doesn't. Life imprisonment is no walk in the park either, imagine your entire existence relegated to one little room. What life imprisonment does, is provide opportunities for reflection, and rehabilitation. Reflection and rehabilitation are fostered by ownership of one's actions. We have to work in a process of rehabilitation into our legal system otherwise we are just lopping off people's heads. Judge not lest ye be judged and who amongst us is innocent of crime? Of ignorance, of violent thought, action or word?

Syed | 13 years ago | Reply Kill him

salman qureshi | 13 years ago | Reply He totally deserves it. Don't feel sorry. Justice cannot be served by letting people like him go because it would only encourage more events like these. We need to send a message out to everyone that they can't just go and shoot anyone they like. It's ridiculous to think he should be forgiven specially when he has no regret of the crime!

Palwesha | 13 years ago | Reply @Loneliberal PK: Thats not very liberal of you Loneliberal. The last time I checked, liberalism was not in favour of capital punishment.

Noman Ansari | 13 years ago | Reply I suppose you are either pro death penalty or you are not. If you are pro death penalty, then MQ should be a the top of the list. OFF WITH HIS HEAD!

dali | 13 years ago | Reply reading the comments, i truly believe that this nation deserves to be, where it is today. What ever happened to the Taseer's is not a matter to be taken lightly, however, id at least have my stomach turned inside out once when thinking about taking somebody's life. Whether it be Taseer or Qadri. Delirious ppl like Qadri, should be mentally treated, with the rest of our nation. I hate to use examples from any holy script, but if i am right, the prophet forgave the guys who threw stones at him. It was so bad that his shoes were filled with blood. At least that's how I think the story goes.

Ahmad Mukaram. | 13 years ago | Reply Your confusion reminds me of a very relevant piece of wisdom that i recently skimmed through, presented by legendary Austro-British philosopher Sir Karl Raimund Popper. It would help you(i hope) in separating wheat from shaft and clarify your own confusions on this complicated philosophical topic of 'Paradox of Tolerance'. He writes in 'The Open Societies and It's Enemies'(1945): “The so-called paradox of freedom is the argument that freedom in the sense of absence of any constraining control must lead to very great restraint, since it makes the bully free to enslave the meek. The idea is, in a slightly different form, and with very different tendency, clearly expressed in Plato. Less well known is the paradox of tolerance: Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them. — In this formulation, I do not imply, for instance, that we should always suppress the utterance of intolerant philosophies; as long as we can counter them by rational argument and keep them in check by public opinion, suppression would certainly be unwise. But we should claim the right to suppress them if necessary even by force; for it may easily turn out that they are not prepared to meet us on the level of rational argument, but begin by denouncing all argument; they may forbid their followers to listen to rational argument, because it is deceptive, and teach them to answer arguments by the use of their fists or pistols. We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant. We should claim that any movement preaching intolerance places itself outside the law, and we should consider incitement to intolerance and persecution as criminal, in the same way as we should consider incitement to murder, or to kidnapping, or to the revival of the slave trade, as criminal.” Popper.K.(1945), The Open Societies and It's Enemies.

Usama Zafar | 13 years ago | Reply @ author However, I can’t help but wonder, do two negatives make a positive? Mumtaz Qadri's verdict is not negative!!

VoiceOfReason | 13 years ago | Reply Qadri should be given the same punishment that was given to Raymond Davis, for killing in Pakistan. Qadri is like Robin Hood for ordinary Pakistanis, who work for their daily livelihood, and those who do not commit blasphemy (as Late (Obnoxious) Salman Taseer (May he rest in peace) did). So Qadri should be given the same punishment, or honor, that the English king gave to Robin Hood.

Garbargotala | 13 years ago | Reply correction: NOT marylin manson but CHARLES MANSON....though marylin deserves to be put behind bars too :P

BM | 13 years ago | Reply I am a pacifist at heart and don’t believe in the death penalty, so can see what the author is going through. But for a society to become pacifist, it needs to evolve a lot more than ours. The Norwegians actually discussed not putting the killer of 80 odd teenagers to death because they are at a higher plane then us, and may give him life imprisonment. They believe that a person, however cruel, can be reformed. However, I don’t think a lifetime of imprisonment will reform Qadri, or any of the other religious fanatics who butcher innocent Pakistanis. So till then, death penalty must prevail as a deterrent, and Qadri, more than others, deserves it.

bigsaf | 13 years ago | Reply Before I used to argue with people that extremism was only a minority fringe. However, after seeing the support for Qadri, from some mainstream professionals, I had to reconsider that assumption. Question is, will his death really send a message of law and order and deter any other extremist vigilantism in the country? I'm afraid it will not. Qadri is a product of our society. The Sunni Tehreek organizatoin, along with other organizatoins, as well as some commentators right here, under this article, believe he's a hero. How do you appeal to reason when our religion is twisted into superstitious ideology based on whims? His death sentence is symbolic, and perhaps just. But will solve very little unless we seriously address our out-dated discriminatory laws, the fanaticism behind it, lack of societal civility and law and order that gives them the gall to come out and publicly support a murderer.

huma | 13 years ago | Reply going above the debate of secularism v fundamentalism, the point is the man got up in court and confessed to murder. the victims family did not take any blood money. in "taazir" the secular penal code and in "Hadd" the religious law it adds up to a confession of murder by the man and the punishment for both is death. its nothing to be happy or sad for. or to debate on as the one going on in this article/its comments. it just is.

buttjee | 13 years ago | Reply @atul: Eye for eye will not make the whole world blind. In fact only two persons will lose their eyes the rest of the world will learn the lesson of their life and no one will ever try to cause any harm to other person.

True Believer | 13 years ago | Reply I have a different take on things. If you hang Qadri, you will create 100 more Qadris. If you kill his extremism, you will save 100's people from becoming extremists - its a long shot but its worth a shot and it may work. Here's how. He has been programmed to hate ... so program him to love. Let liberal Islamic scholars sit and explain things to him. Take him around places in Pakistan where he can see and experience the Sufi tradition of Islam that blossomed in South Asia. Educate him about Bulleh Shah, Bhitai et al. Take him to sufi sites in the world where he can see non-muslims come together and worship with muslims - Konya in Turkey, Ajmer in India etc. It may take a few years... but once Qadri realizes his folly ... take him around schools and seminaries all over Pakistan and let him speak to young impressionable minds about his journey from hate to love.

Huma | 13 years ago | Reply After the decision we have no hope from our Court or Law... The only thing we can do is to pray Allah that final word would be the justice for Qadri.!! :) Court took the worst decision ever.

Sami | 13 years ago | Reply @Usman: Pakistan is in a mess b/c of people like you and this Qadri character types. You people have no knowledge or understanding of Islam or history, yet you're so quick to judge others. Do you know that our beloved Prophet (PBUH) was the most merciful person that ever existed? Do you know that he forgave a women who used to throw trash him when he used go for namaz? Do you know he forgave women who chewed his uncle's liver? Do you know that blasphemy laws have nothing to do with Islam and where passed by British in 1860 to keep peaces between Hindus and Muslims in India? Do you know that no other Islamic country have blasphemy laws? Our awam is driven by emotions & not Islamic knowledge or history, and anything, even unslamic stuff can be justify in the name of Islam. This is Jahaliat (ignorance) in truest sense.

atul | 13 years ago | Reply It is nice to see so many voices in favor of salaman taseer... here in India bunch of ppl think that there is no liberal voice in pak. we showed them such an overwhelming support for a true liberal. this verdict also tell us that at least there are some institution still remain who enlighten the rays of hope. one thing more I would like to add here- I'm very happy to see a Mahatma Gandhi quote here "eye for eye, will make whole world blind". we still try to maintain his idea for secularism, pluralism and liberalism

Basharit | 13 years ago | Reply @Haroon: My innerself is at peace knowing tasser is no longer alive, as I stated till this great country is known as the Islamic republic of Pakistan NO-ONE will dare hang ghazi. If they do we will see people power. So to all the liberal elite for your sake this hanging must not go ahead.

Bhatti | 13 years ago | Reply He must be punished by according to the law of Pakistan. Because we will/must not tolerate this kind of extremist in our society.

anybodyagree | 13 years ago | Reply wheather he deserve to die or not? v peoples fight with & pour our venum on each others. . !!!!

Usman | 13 years ago | Reply There is some ignorant behavior we saw in our community for a long time and the climax scene (so far) is the death of Salman Taseer. I believe that no one should interfere in the much sensitive matters like blasphemy laws especially after some one is proven guilty, in the case where Salman spoke bluntly for the woman (Asia Bibi) who is proven guilty. He is much influenced by the western culture (No way we could deny that), he was drunken most of the time then why the hell he suppose to talk in the matter which is take by more then 97% of Muslims as a matter of life and death? Qadri on the other hand is also take the law in his own hand and that why he should be punished. Salman and his followers, do remember that, this country is taken for the name of ALLAH and this country must be govern by the laws made by ALLAH 1400years ago, if that's the case he may be punished not for blasphemy law but by for drinking too.

Garbargotala | 13 years ago | Reply you ma'am are one confused soul!! do you want 'qoward qadri' dead or not?!. I know my stance on capital punishment unlike you :P ...BAN IT! ...i would rather see murderers,even the likes of marylin manson suffer life imprisonment..have their freedom SNATCHED from them for the rest of their lives..and while reform thm..make them remorseful in the process and make them realize that they have had a life wasted...THT...tht feeling trumps any from of capital punishment anyday! I just hope justice has been served and qoward qadri does not file an appeal against the verdict! ...i know sanity WILL NEVER prevail in this country taken hostage by certain narrow minded mullahs and mullah parties! but i hope that qadri and his case is left alone for good..a reminder to us all that our judiciary..thought feeble is still brave enough!...errm..said tht..i hope none of the judges presiding over the case are harmed and THAT their names aren't mentioned in the media for some time...ppl b crazy here...and i wont be surprised if people within the lawyer community are bloodthirsty for the judges' blood!..sigghh

Haroon | 13 years ago | Reply @Basharit: What about your innerself...?

Aidan | 13 years ago | Reply Why write this article at all then if you had no clear idea of how you felt...?

Faz | 13 years ago | Reply Indeed justice has been done. The reservations expressed on capital punishment are negated by the author later in the article by suggesting Qadri's verdict as an exception. Why such exceptions? Perhaps the author considers Qadri's crime as most despicable in recent history and assumes that expressing such stark views on religious intolerance will improve situation in the society. If so, then there a lots of sore losers of this verdict in the same society and they will see such views as insult to their injury ( right or wrong ) eventually polarizing the society further. Intolerance can't be fought with other form of intolerance. Can't we just express a sigh of relief that after all justice is being served and that's it. Period. No more commentary, those who need to learn a lesson will learn themselves, don't provoke them otherwise it may turn counter-productive.

Basharit | 13 years ago | Reply @Haroon: Ghazi Ilmadeen and America cheema shaheed should a answer your questions!

omar | 13 years ago | Reply He deserves to die...period!

from india | 13 years ago | Reply the purpose of punishment is that it should create a deterrent effect in the society.... if the convict is afraid of death then he should be awarded death penalty, if he thinks he will go to heaven and enjoy 72 virgins becoz he is a jihadi, then let him rot in jail in inhuman conditions for the rest of his life !!

that kid | 13 years ago | Reply i dont get the point of writing this content. the mad deserves a public shooting this guy took the law in his hands he took a mans life this guys should be shot in public. humanism has nothing to do with this, u kill a person u deserve to die the same way u killed the person. period

Sindhvoice | 13 years ago | Reply Very well written article.This case should be a model case to give a strong signal to all extremists and fundamentalists that no one is above the Law and their terrorist activities are no more acceptable and they can't shut the sane voices with bullets. They can terrorize people but they cant stop the progressive,sane and civilized voices. For a new beginning, table has to be turned to project liberal, tolerant and progressive social system, only then we can attain peace and prosperity. In spite of all such extremism in Pakistan,the curious case is with Sindh, which is safe because of people's deep respect for Sufi-ism, and pluralism. Sindhi version of Sufi-ism could also help dilute the rising extremism because it has practically proved its worth as it has saved Sindhi people to become extremists. Anyways,We wish in our Pakistan, a land of pure, she could be become pure and free from of all sort of extremism,fascism and fundamentalism.

Xain Gardezi | 13 years ago | Reply There is no two negatives here. A killer deserves to die. Being humanist and being baive are two different things. Letting loose someone capable of murder is endangerment of other people's lives

Loneliberal PK | 13 years ago | Reply What people are celebrating is not the death of a man, but the return of justice back into our midst. We've witnessed the never-ending wails of Mukhtaran Mai, the blood of Salman Taseer spilt on the ground, the violent demise of the minister of minorities, the disappearance of Shahbaz Taseer, and the endless suffering of minorities. After what seems to have been an eon, we see a ray of hope and we WILL celebrate the crap out of it.

Salman Latif | 13 years ago | Reply I'd say this is a very balanced view-point by the author. Those who are proposing vociferously, increasingly torturous methods of punishing Qadri, I think that's like stooping down to the very level of this killer. The likes of him do want to make us a mad society which is blood-thirsty and wants to avenge, most cruelly, whatever it holds as wrong. We can't let them accomplish that, even along our way to design a Pakistan that is opposed to their notions. Qadri's sentence, unfortunate as it is when we consider the sanctity of human life, is the only way to put an end to the evil emanating from this one person. But to counter the evils that emanates from the very ideology he follows, that of killing people by judging them personally and imposing whatever fatwas one deems necessary whenever needed, to counter this mindset, we have to follow loftier ideals than they do. And for that reason, let's not rejoice in the pain this man shall suffer but let's rejoice over the fact that for once, at least, justice has prevailed :)

Haroon | 13 years ago | Reply To those who believe that Qadri did the justice, does that mean that Salman Taseer got the punishment for what he did? That means he is no more liable to be punished for his sin for which Qadri killed him... Well this can be easily inferred that we Pakistani-Muslims are good to have Gods among us to share the burden of Allah. Pathetic... This lunatic deserves at least a death... By the way what Salman Taseer said, I believed in it too even though I am a believer Muslim... is Bisharat going to kill me now...??? All these qadri (intentionally named him in small characters) lovers, what have they done when Salman Rushdi wrote about Quran, Danish cartoons...

okra | 13 years ago | Reply yes he must die bcoz he is criminal he killed a innocent person... and showes it doing for islam...

Omair Shakil | 13 years ago | Reply Stop with the calls for a public hanging/flogging already! Qadri got a sentence that is deserving of his doing so lets just stop acting like sadists now. Every man deserves a respectful life and a respectful death and qadri, who is paying for his crime here and will pay for his crime in the hereafter, deserves the same. Next we'll be asking for his body to be cut up into pieces and fed to dogs! Come on, i know we are not a civilized nation but that's no reason why we need to add credence to that notion by demandind public desecration of criminals.

Forbidden Fruit | 13 years ago | Reply It's time people learn that they're not God who'd impart justice on earth by brutally murdering people who disagree with their warped ideas of "religiosity". Two wrongs don't make a right, but then sentencing a proud murderer to death isn't a "wrong" to begin with!

Naeem Siddiqui | 13 years ago | Reply @basharit Qadri is an embarassment and shame for the greatness and respect of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). People like Qadri need to be punished harsh for bringing bad name for Islam and The Great Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Ms Marium | 13 years ago | Reply Does Mumtaz Qadri deserves to die ? NO

Taimur Arbab | 13 years ago | Reply Well, nicely put...I just hope that our justice system, reeking of peels of inefficiency and retardness whereby the dictums of a mercantalist Raj are made to comply with a nation-state in modern times, comes to its senses and decide cases such as these as fast as possible...like it or not, if it would have been left to the normal predictions about justice being delivered in Pakistan, only our grandchildren would have seen the final verdict!...and believe me, my gut feeling says that they would try to make the implementation as prolonged as possible

basharit | 13 years ago | Reply @waqas ahmed: you are right waqas but in a Islamic republic we dont hang the Faithful.

waqas ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply if mumtaz qadri really did it for islam, and if he really is a faithfull (momin), then he will be happy to die....no matter if he did wrong or right, if he beleive that he did the right accroding to his conscious, then he wont be afraid to die. he will be peacful and he will look forward for blessing. waqas ahmed islamabad

Jameel | 13 years ago | Reply

Does Mumtaz Qadri deserve to die?

You mean for cold blooded brutal murder of Governor Salman Taseer? Umm…really hard to decide.

arsalan | 13 years ago | Reply @Sami: great blog he deserves to be hanged infront of everyone!!

Farhan Virk | 13 years ago | Reply I wrote this letter for Late Taseer's family! "How to take Salman Taseer's Revenge?" (An Open letter to Salman Taseer Shaheed's family!) (This post isn't based for any publicity! It is soul of the writer that inspired him to write this letter! And he is really longing for the late Salman Taseer's family to read it. It was written on 16th january this year and is published now with a few changes ) Perhaps 4 jan 2011 was the most sad day of my life yet when Mr Salman Taseer was brutally murdered but despite that the more sad part was the killer being cheered more around the whole country! A typical show of religious fanaticism that made everyone of us to think a lot about the mentality of our people. I'm also one of those who were great followers of late Salman Taseer, i always remember mentioning him on my tweets and he often replied me! That was much of a suprise when he did! But this post is meant for helping Salman Taseer's family to think of a way to get the best revenge! Current Scenario: Mumtaz Qadri is cheered by all so called fanatics around the country! And sad part is the numbers account for more 80% of this country's population who rather feel happy to see the death of Mr Salman Taseer. Just because of an utter confusion created by Ulemas not ulemas exactly, fanatics! Solution to prove Salman Taseer's view point: Religious fanatics always have found ways to exploit their propaganda's by their deaths or as said martyrdom's! "IT IS MY HUMBLE REQUEST TO THE FAMILY OF LATE SALMAN TASEER TO FORGIVE MUMTAZ QADRI FOR THIS WORLDLY LIFE BUT DO ASK FOR PUNISHMENT IN THE LIFE HEREAFTER." only then these so called religious fanatics of modern nay would feel sorry for their brutal nature! Our modern day Mullah's are severe extremists who have forgotten their original religion. I remember late Taseer stood up for a feeble lady when all Mullah's were hunting her like blood thirsty hounds! He got assassinated because of such strong stance but does that mean we need to repeat history again, if the family of late Taseer decided to forgive Mumtaz Qadri today it'd none the less mean gallows for religious extremism in Pakistan. I know it'd be a hard decision but in case it's not taken Qadri will become a Super Hero in our school books and the Hero will be declared a blasphemist. The recent kidnap of Shahbaz Taseer might also be linked with this case as the kidnappers might inflict brutality at him as the after shocks of this case. The cause of Taseer was to spread peace and the release of Qadri would make the militant mullah's ashamed. They're almost ready to make his shrine and worship him. It is the need of the hour not to let this apartheid happen. Only this way, Late Taseer's jihad for peace and forgiveness will prevail. May Allah guide his family to take right decision (Ameen).

Basharit | 13 years ago | Reply @Sami: he is only a thug because he killed a member of the elite liberal class. No court in Pakistan will hang Mumtaz Qadri just wait and see. As I said in my earlier post the majority of people in Pakistan want him freed and I am not referring to liberal elite class. But the ordinary Pakistani those that don't have clean drinking water, food or any shelter those are the ppl that love qadri so unfortunately for you regardless what you call him No-one will hang him.

R.A | 13 years ago | Reply

  YES YES YES
   SOONER THE BETTER

Sami | 13 years ago | Reply @Basharit: Mabye your hero, but to rest of us he is no good thug & a killer.

buttjee | 13 years ago | Reply The writer has written a very impressive expression of her thoughts. This case has to pass through various legal stages and may be at some stage his death sentence is commuted to life imprisonment. Today's court verdict has sent a strong message that in a civilized soceity, people cannot be allowed to take the law in their hands on the basis of their personal perceptions may it be related to religion or personal honour.

Waqar | 13 years ago | Reply Death is not something to celebrate, but sometimes it is the only way.The day we celebrate death is the day we lose our humanity.

Basharit | 13 years ago | Reply No no no he should not be given the death penalty. This is absolutely disgraceful free Muntaz Qadri he is our hero. The majority of ordinary Pakistani-Muslins want him freed.

Parvez | 13 years ago | Reply There comes a time when one has to take a stand and vacillating at such a time shows weakness and if the other side reads it as such it only emboldens them.

Marium | 13 years ago | Reply Love this piece....Here's hoping Shahbaz returns home safe and sound. The Taseer family has suffered enough at the hands of these &^%$#@

Former Pakistani | 13 years ago | Reply @Sami: we are a civilized nation?? joke of the day..

Sami | 13 years ago | Reply Yes, he deservie to die becasue in a civilized nation no one should be allowed to take law in their own hands.

Fayez | 13 years ago | Reply yes

Sidrah Moiz Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Loved what you wrote. Although, I still believe in the concept, 'an eye for an eye'.

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