Mumtaz Qadri appeals against death sentence in Supreme Court

Plea states punishment against Qadri should not be as severe as murder was 'provoked'


Web Desk April 13, 2015
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.

COMMENTS (14)

Dipak | 9 years ago | Reply Not only Quadri should be punished immediately, I would also like to put all those lawyers to be put in jail for Life for spreading the rose petals in celebration for killing Gov. Salman Taseer.
qanoon | 9 years ago | Reply The plea proves the fact that he has admitted to have murdered Salman Taseer. What else is there to ascertain? Give him some pills before the hanging. That will be mercy.
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