A Rawalpindi magistrate has testified before a trial court that the self-confessed assassin of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer has confessed that he committed the murder because of Taseer’s stance on the blasphemy law.
During the course of hearing on Saturday, Magistrate Muhammad Ali Randhawa appeared before Special Judge of the Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) Raja Ikhlaq Ahmed and deposed that he had recorded the confession of Malik Mumtaz Qadri. The court adjourned the case till May 14.
On April 5, two witnesses, police draughtsman Khurram Shahzad and sub-inspector Muhammad Gulfraz, had recorded their statements.
On the previous hearing on February 14, the formal trial of Qadri began after four persons, including CMO of the Federal Government Services Hospital (Polyclinic) Dr Muhammad Arshad, Assistant Sub-Inspector Iftikhar Ali and Constable Abdul Raheem of the Koshar police station recorded their statements.
Taseer’s son Shehryar Taseer had stated in the FIR that his father was assassinated on the persuasion of certain political and religious groups.
Lawyers defending the self-confessed killer appeared before the court along with Qadri’s father Bashir Awan and his brother Dilpazir.
The police submitted a three-page charge-sheet in which Qadri was booked under Sections 7 of the Anti Terrorism Act and 302/109 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of Shehryar Taseer.
As many as 11 prosecution witnesses have so far recorded their statements. However, a total of 42 witnesses are involved in the case, including Shehryar Taseer.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 1st, 2011.
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