Pakistan

Taseer murder case: IHC hears Qadri's appeal after three years

Appeal case adjourned till February 3 as prosecutors ask for more time to prepare arguments

Obaid Abassi January 27, 2015

Qadri had filed an appeal challenging the death sentence awarded by the Anti-Terrorism Court . PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: After three long years, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday heard Mumtaz Qadri's appeal against the court's death sentence verdict in Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer’s murder case.

Taseer was shot dead in Islamabad by Qadri, who at the time also served as Taseer's security guard. Qadri had cited Taseer's views on the country's blasphemy laws as his motive for the murder. The late governor was shot 25 times by the appellant.

As a result, Qadri had filed an appeal before the court on October 6, 2011 challenging the death sentence awarded by the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Rawalpindi on October 1, 2011.

The case was adjourned till February 3, 2015 during the hearing as Advocate General and Additional Deputy General sought time to prepare arguments on the case.