Salmaan Taseer’s assassination: Qadri requested posting with ex-governor

Police officials record statements before trial court.

RAWALPINDI:

Punjab Police elite force constable , Umer Farooq on Saturday informed the trial court that Malik Mumtaz Qadri had requested to be assigned to guard former governor Salmaan Taseer on January 4.

During the hearing of the case at Adiala Jail, three prosecution witnesses have recorded their statement before the Special Judge Anti (ATC) Raja Ikhlaq Ahmed.

Three witnesses including Umer Farooq elite force constable from Rawalpindi, Muhammad Zaman Sub Inspector Koshar Police Station and Muhammad Arshad Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) appeared before the court and recorded their statements.

Umer Farooq informed the court that Qadri had asked him to assign his duty with Salmaan Taseer on January, 04. He requested that he wanted to visit in the federal capital.

Meanwhile the public prosecutur Saiful Malook was also present, the counsel for the defence Shujaur Rehman along with the father of Qadri Bashir Awan and his brother Dilpazir were also there. After recorded their statements court adjourned the matter till April 02.

Earlier on March 05 two witnesses had recorded their statements including a police draftsman Khurram Shahzad and Sub Inspector (SI) Muhammad Gulfraz.

Khurram Shahzad told the court about the crime scene where Salmaan Taseer was assassinated in sector F-6/4 Kosar Market on January 04.

Nine prosecution witnesses have recorded their statements so far in the case, however total 42 witnesses are in the case.

On February 14 Qardi was formally indicted by the ATC when he confessed to having killed Salmaan Taseer for criticising the blasphemy law.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2011.