Protect the judge

Judge Pervez Ali Shah of the anti-terrorism court must be accorded protection given our experience of such matters.

ISLAMABAD: The recent death sentence given to Mumtaz Qadri, the killer of Salman Taseer has stirred agitation among many rightwing religio-political groups. The brave judge, Pervez Ali Shah of the anti-terrorism court must be accorded protection by the state given our experience of such matters.

Unfortunately in Pakistan, the driving force behind religion and politics, both, has remained emotionalism. Rightwing parties take the lead and have time and again proved that they are unwilling to accept any decision that is given against one of them, even if it is based on religious principles of justice and fairplay.

The police must ensure that people do not use violence when responding to the verdict and that no one involved in Qadri’s conviction comes to any kind of harm. Also, it is the responsibility of every sane citizen to stay calm, and also to urge others to act likewise.

Zulfiqar Haider

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2011.