JI seeks Presidential pardon for Mumtaz Qadri

JI says anybody can file mercy plea for the person concerned, urges Zardari to consider in "public interest".

ISLAMABAD: The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has asked President Asif Ali Zardari to utilise his special powers to grant amnesty to Mumtaz Qadri, the self-confessed murderer of former Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer. Qadri had been sentenced to death last month by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi.

(Read: Taseer murder case: Qadri sentenced to death)

Qadri had confessed to killing Salmaan Taseer in the ATC court which subsequently found him guilty and pronounced the death penalty for killing Taseer and breaching his oath as a policeman. His defense counsel had filed an appeal against the sentence in the Islamabad High Court.

(Read: Murder case: Taseer’s assassin appeals death sentence)

“[JI] urges the President to announce amnesty for Qadri like many other cases especially under the NRO,” said a resolution adopted by JI Shura. “Government should withdraw the case against him for murdering Taseer in the public interest.” The JI referred to the thousands of cases against criminals and politicians which had been withdrawn under the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) whereas Qadri was not given any such concession; The JI leadership observed in a meeting adopted numerous clauses on hot issues. “Qadri gunned down Taseer for criticising the Blasphemy law in line with the sentiments of the masses.”

JI quoted Article 45 of the Constitution by which powers of President of the state enable granting pardon to anybody. “The President shall to grant, reprieve and respite and to remit, suspend any sentence pass by any court, tribunal or authority,” the article reads. Generally, a mercy petition is forwarded to the Presidency in such cases like Qadri, said a retired judge of the Supreme Court who did not want to be named. It is pertinent to mention here that Salmaan Taseer had initiated a similar process seeking the pardon of blasphemy law convict Asia bibi whom he believed had been hard done. Qadri, inflamed by this act and other statements of Taseer against the blasphemy law, proceeded to execute Taseer.

(Read: Why not free Qadri?)

“Qadri has been awarded death sentence under section 7 of the Anti Terrorism Act which is non-compoundable, even the legal heirs compound his offence,” he said and added, “It’s also not possible in the law under section 3/2 (kesaf & diat),” The JI Shura noted.

The government, JI leadership demanded, should categorically announce, the Blasphemy law would not be changed. Europe and the US should also be asked to stop criticising this law because it’s Pakistan’s internal matter, it added.

JI also voiced its disappointment with Zardari saying the President and the co-chairman of Pakistan’s largest political party had shocked people when he termed Taseer, a hero while the trial court also let down the people wishes when it awarded death sentence to Qadri. “Nation stands united on the issue of sanctity of the holy prophet (PBUH),” the JI leadership said.

The JI, in principal, believes the law of the land is supreme and all citizens must be treated equally, said Senator Prof Khurshid. Unfortunately, both Taseer and Qadri took laws in their own hands, said Khurshid. “Qadri case is special and represents nation’s feelings,” he said adding, “Islamic forces demand Article 45 should be invoked in this case.”

To a question whether the JI itself move any pardon plea to the President on behalf of Qadri who himself confessed to the crime, Prof Khurshid said, “JI Shura’s resolution is enough.” Qadri confessed to murder on the grounds that he objected to Salmaan Taseer's calls to amend the controversial blasphemy law. He also recorded his statement in the ATC that he has no intention to seek pardon from the President. However, he explained that anybody can file mercy plea if the concerned person does not file his/her plea, recalling Nusrat Bhutto’s plea for mercy to General Zia as his husband Zulfikar Ali Bhutto did not move his pardon plea.

“My client’s morale is very high urging us not to go for pardon plea,” Qadri’s Counsel Shujaa-ur-Rehman told The Express Tribune.