Salmaan Taseer murder: IHC dumps Qadri’s defence arguments
Qadri's counsel insisted that “anyone can be killed under unusual circumstances”
A file photo of Mumtaz Qadri. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
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.
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.