Mumtaz Qadri does not deserve mercy, Taseer's family appeals to court

Legal heirs of slain governor file application in IHC requesting it to reject Qadri's mercy appeal

ISLAMABAD: The legal heirs of Salmaan Taseer filed an application before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday, requesting it to reject the murder appeal of Mumtaz Qadri, the self-confessed killer of the former governor Punjab.

The application was filed by Salmaan Taseer's children Shaan Taseer, Sara Taseer and Sanam Taseer.

In their application, the complainant stated that they came to know that the defence counsel, former chief justice of the Lahore High Court Khawaja Muhammad Sharif had informed the court that the legal heirs have no interest to pursue the case.

However, they sated that they have not received any court notice in this regard.

“It is disrespectful, abhorrent and irresponsible; the counsel should be prevented from making any such statement on behalf of persons whom he does not represent,” the application stated.

They maintained the accused had committed a heinous murder in cold blood and does not deserve mercy. Further, the heirs appealed the accused is a traitor of the country as he murdered the former governor during duty.

The complainant requested the court to reject his murder appeal. However, a court official told The Express Tribune the court has not yet received the application.

The hearing of Qadri's appeal took an interesting turn on Friday, when the 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.



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When the two-member bench, comprising Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi and Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, resumed hearing on Friday, Justice Siddiqui questioned whether the case should be decided on the basis of emotions or the rule of 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.