A file photo of Mumtaz Qadri. PHOTO: AFP
The hearing of appeal of Mumtaz Qadri, the self-confessed killer of Punjab governor Salman Taseer, took an interesting turn on Friday, when the Islamabad High Court (IHC) remarked that even a judge cannot touch an accused after awarding him punishment, yet the defence counsel insisted that a person can kill another person under unusual circumstances.
When the two-member bench, comprising Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi and Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, resumed hearing in the case on Friday, Justice Siddiqui questioned whether the case should be decided on the basis of emotions or the letter of the law.
Counsel for Qadri Justice (retd) Mian Nazir Akhar insisted that “anyone can be killed under unusual circumstances.” Quoting examples from Islamic history, he mentioned incidents in which blasphemers were killed for making derogatory remarks against the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and their act was appreciated by the then rulers.
However, the judge observed that at that time the nature of things was different and the said team had judicial powers.
The defence argued that the track record of his client was good and Qadri was an honest man who had served many VIPs. However, the bench observed that if this stance is admitted then what about the oath of all police officers and policemen which they take on joining the service. “There is a blasphemy law in the country and in the presence of that law no one is allowed to take the law into his hands,” Justice Siddiqui observed.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2015.
COMMENTS (25)
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@Jamal: Life is the most sacred of all the things god has created and it is not for ' Ghazi Mumtaz Qadri' to be the judge and jury of murdering whoever he thinks deserve to die...this is jungle law and not an Islamic law....Moreover if he really thinks that is the right way to go about, let him go to the gallows with his head high rather than hiding behind the cowardly mob of the so called upholders of law!!
Why is this murderer picture placed on the front page? Don't you have anything nice to put up there? Why are forcing me and other readers to see this beast's picture? He is a murderer and simple as that.
This can happen in Pak land.
Long live Ghazi Mumtaz Hussain Qadri.
What a Country?. A self confessed murderer is a Hero and for whose defence Ex-Chief Justice`s/Lawyers are more than happy to fight the case.
Stop arguing and discussing this case. The death sentence awarded should be implemented ASAP! Period! Enough of such people already. Get rid of them, if we want to save Pakistan.
He is the poster child for everything that is wrong in Pakistan. He is wearing an expensive jacket that is probably a gift from a rich, unnamed admirer. It will take several generations to root out the extremist mentality.
There are no grounds for the Defense's argument. They may have had a better chance with a temporary insanity defense. No Judge can accept that anyone can apply his own religious code in the killing of another.
As a Pakistani, I feel ashamed that this matter is up for debate in court of law ? A self-confessed murderer is being tried in court for motives ? Shouldn't the "Self" mean something here for judiciary to pass a verdict ?
I'm sorry but as a Pakistani, I'm really running out of reasons to be proud of my country.
Let us hope justice and common sense prevails.......and then justice is also seen to be done.
I beleive an ex-judge of Lahore HC is defending the killer. All his judgments he did during his days at LHC should be screened for bias and injustice.