Mumtaz Qadri’s indictment deferred: lawyer

Prosecution has yet to provide the defence with six police statements says Qadri's lawyer.


Afp February 01, 2011

RAWALPINDI: A Pakistani court on Tuesday deferred the indictment of the police commando who confessed to killing late Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer, his lawyer said.

Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri said he shot dead Punjab governor Salman Taseer outside a cafe after lunch in Islamabad on January 4 because he objected to Taseer's calls to reform the blasphemy law, which carries the death penalty.

One of Qadri's lawyers, Raja Shuja Rehman, told AFP that the indictment could not take place as planned because the prosecution had yet to provide the defence with six police statements.

"The court has ordered that the statements be provided to us and the next hearing has been fixed on February 4. According to the rules, an indictment can be done seven days after statements are provided," he added.

Taseer's killing drew mixed reactions in Pakistan, where many from the increasingly powerful conservative religious quarter praised the gunman for acting to silence the outspoken politician.

About 100 bearded men and youths gathered outside the high-security Adiyala prison in Rawalpindi, a garrison city neighbouring the capital, calling for his release, shouting "Have some shame, free Qadri".

The protesters nudged in front of the judge's car as he arrived for the hearing at the prison but there was no incident, an AFP reporter said.

Qadri was showered with petals at initial court hearings after he admitted to the murder, which dealt a heavy blow to the liberal elite in Pakistan.

Rehman claimed Qadri's health was deteriorating.

"We are concerned about his health. It is deteriorating and we will hold the administration responsible if anything happens to Qadri," he said.

Investigation officer Hakim Khan told the court that cleric Hanif Qureshi and another man, Imtiaz Shah, were no longer relevant to enquiries.

Qureshi and Shah were released on bail after Qadri said he shot Taseer after listening to their speeches.

COMMENTS (14)

Aamira | 13 years ago | Reply Dear All, Three kind of education system prevail in this country. The elite, A level, O level, foreign qualification etc with westeren ideologies in which you can easily criticise any idea, thought and view. Even prophets are not immune to criticism in this ideology. The second is Government based education institution. Mindless, taught to obey every policy the Sarkar makes. The third one is the Religious educated people those are open to any idea but they devote themselves to the service of God and his Prophet. They can not hear any thing against Him and can not tolerate ill words against Prophet (PBUH). We are not able to understand them and they are not able to hear us. These comments are only widening the gaps. TRY UNDERSTAND BEFORE YOU CRITICIZE. Let us realize that Salman Taseer went out of limits when he declared Blasphemy law "black law" and crual law. Salman humiliated Courts of Pakistan when he showed his dissatisfaction on judicial system of Pakistan by saying Asia was not rightly convicted by competent court of law. Mumtaz reaction may be severe but dont forget MUMTAZ'S ACTION WAS ACTUALLY REACTION TO SALMANS ACTS THAT INSTIGATED HIM TO TAKE SALMANS LIFE.
puzlica | 13 years ago | Reply Sameer Usmani, dont you think its unfair that only the conservative religious quarters are allowed to express themselves.
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