Mumtaz Qadri appeals against death sentence in Supreme Court
Plea states punishment against Qadri should not be as severe as murder was 'provoked'
PHOTO: AFP
Mumtaz Qadri, the killer of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, appealed against his death sentence in the Supreme Court on Monday, Express News reported.
Qadri’s lawyer, advocate Khawaja Sharif presented his appeal to the apex court today claiming the Islamabad High Court’s verdict is unconstitutional and unlawful.
As per Pakistan Penal Code Section 302 (C), the punishment should not be as severe as the murder was an act of provocation, the plea stated.
Islamabad High Court (IHC) upheld Mumtaz Qadri’s death sentence on Monday under Section-302 of the Pakistan Penal Code for killing former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, but struck out a terrorism conviction, making it unlikely he will be executed soon.
Read: Taseer murder case: IHC upholds Mumtaz Qadri's death sentence
On March 9, the Islamabad High Court dismissed an appeal against the death sentence by Qadri, Taseer’s former police bodyguard. However, the IHC declared Qadri’s death sentence under the Anti Terrorism Act null and void.
Read: Dropping of terror charge: Ministry appeals IHC’s Mumtaz Qadri verdict
Qadri admitted shooting Taseer, saying he objected to the politician’s calls to reform Pakistan’s strict blasphemy laws which can carry the death penalty.
An anti-terrorism court handed down double death sentences for murder and terrorism to Qadri in late 2011. However, the self-confessed killer of the former governor Punjab had filed an appeal in the court against his conviction which the IHC dismissed.
Qadri’s lawyer, advocate Khawaja Sharif presented his appeal to the apex court today claiming the Islamabad High Court’s verdict is unconstitutional and unlawful.
As per Pakistan Penal Code Section 302 (C), the punishment should not be as severe as the murder was an act of provocation, the plea stated.
Islamabad High Court (IHC) upheld Mumtaz Qadri’s death sentence on Monday under Section-302 of the Pakistan Penal Code for killing former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, but struck out a terrorism conviction, making it unlikely he will be executed soon.
Read: Taseer murder case: IHC upholds Mumtaz Qadri's death sentence
On March 9, the Islamabad High Court dismissed an appeal against the death sentence by Qadri, Taseer’s former police bodyguard. However, the IHC declared Qadri’s death sentence under the Anti Terrorism Act null and void.
Read: Dropping of terror charge: Ministry appeals IHC’s Mumtaz Qadri verdict
Qadri admitted shooting Taseer, saying he objected to the politician’s calls to reform Pakistan’s strict blasphemy laws which can carry the death penalty.
An anti-terrorism court handed down double death sentences for murder and terrorism to Qadri in late 2011. However, the self-confessed killer of the former governor Punjab had filed an appeal in the court against his conviction which the IHC dismissed.