Taseer’s killer allowed access to books, newspapers

Court allows Qadri access to books and newspapers for his leisure and also to bask under the February sun.

RAWALPINDI: The self-confessed assassin of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer was allowed by a court access to books and newspapers for his leisure and also to bask under the February sun.

The orders were given by the judge of the Anti Terrorism Court, Raja Ikhlaq Ahmed.

Shujaur Rehman, the counsel for Malik Mumtaz, filed a writ petition before the ATC in this regard.

The counsel also maintained that Mumtaz was being kept in solitary confinement, he was “not even allowed to come out of his cell”, adding that he was denied access to books and newspapers.

The lawyer said that according to jail rules, these facilities should be provided to all prisoners.

Earlier, the court had granted permission to meet his family members.

The court would formally charge-sheet him on February 14.

Salmaan Taseer was assassinated on January 4 in Islamabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2011.