From bad to worse

Death of Salmaan Taseer was not bad enough, the process of trial seems to be even more chaotic.

As if the actual events surrounding the death of Salmaan Taseer were not bad enough, the process of trial seems to be even more chaotic. The scenes witnessed in Rawalpindi, as killer Mumtaz Qadri was finally presented before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) judge, are enough to induce a shudder in anticipation of what may lie ahead.

Earlier efforts to produce Qadri at a venue in Islamabad failed after a large crowd of religious party activists, along with a few lawyers, prevented the ATC judge from leaving his office. Qadri was then taken to the court, smiling as he received a hero’s ‘welcome’. Since the public prosecuter was too scared to turn up, police officials argued the case themselves. It is unclear if things will improve in the near future, but the omens are not promising. The trial of Qadri threatens to turn into some kind of circus, with the media bent on highlighting the extent of the support he enjoys. The fact that this support comes from individuals who will not stop at anything to make their point means that the judges and witnesses, as well as government lawyers involved in the case, face a threat at every moment. We can quite imagine what may happen if Qadri is convicted. Police and the administration have demonstrated they are quite unable to manage the situation, and are demonstrating signs of panic — at one point considering shifting the case to a district and sessions court as they struggled to bring the killer before the ATC judge.

The situation is ludicrous. We have on our hands an assassin who is quickly being turned into a man who everyone is afraid to touch. Vigils organised to demand a repeal of blasphemy laws have received far less attention than the pro-Qadri hysteria we are seeing. The environment that has been created makes a fair trial next to impossible. There is also a risk to the life of others who speak against the blasphemy law. We should also consider what can be done to safeguard the life of Aasia Bibi, locked away in a Sheikhupura Jail. Other persons accused of blasphemy have been killed before in prison. The frenzy we see makes it more likely she could be targeted. Everything possible must be done to prevent this.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2011.