Mumtaz Qadri PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD: The country’s top court upheld on Wednesday the death sentence for former elite force guard Mumtaz Qadri for killing former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer.
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa scrapped a plea seeking to revoke Qadri’s death sentence. The sentence was first awarded by an anti-terror court and was then upheld by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) before being challenged in the apex court.
The bench also accepted the federal government’s appeal against Islamabad High Court’s order, wherein charges of terrorism on Qadri was dropped. The bench while announcing short order restored the anti terrorism court’s order.
Read: Judge, jury and executioner: Can individuals punish blasphemers, asks apex court
During the hearing, the counsels for Qadri requested the bench to award lesser sentence to their client as he had no personal grudge with Taseer.
On Tuesday, the three-judge bench has questioned whether an individual had the authority to assume the role of a judge, jury and executioner after having accused someone of blasphemy.
Justice Khosa was apprehensive that if people had the authority to punish alleged blasphemers, then chaos will reign. He warned that people could misuse it by accusing opponents of blasphemy to settle personal scores.
The court further asked whether Qadri had approached the state with his accusation of blasphemy against Taseer, and whether any evidence was available that lent credence to such accusations.
Qadri’s counsel Justice (retd) Mian Nazir Akhtar contended that something had happened just before Taseer was killed since none of the other elite force personnel present at the scene reacted to Qadri’s action. He added that punishing a blasphemer was a religious duty enjoined on everyone.
Read: Plea against death sentence: Defence says religious scholar influenced Qadri
The counsel argued that in blasphemy cases, words also matter though intention to commit a crime may not be as relevant.
Taseer was killed in January 2011 in Islamabad’s Kohsar market.
Its a landmark judgment and it’ll seriously affect the state of mullahs. Thank you Supreme court for keeping my trust in PakistanRecommend
A historical decision indeed. Thumbs Up for SC !!Recommend
Thank God for a sagacious Supreme courtRecommend
When will he be hanged?Recommend
One of the best decisions SC has given in recent memory.Recommend
The degree of Justice (retd) Mian Nazir Akhtar should be cancelled.Recommend
The SC has given a clear verdict. The Law of the jungle is over and humanity has won. Now let us see if the Govt. is willing to walk the walk and make this man walk the final walk! For once and all we have accepted the fact that dissent is is possible without being killed. Mr. Taseer’s family has waited long enough..GOD BLESS PAKISTAN. & SCRecommend
Alhamdullilah. Justice servedRecommend
No individual has authority to act himself as judge jury and executioner. Court rightly rejected Qadri’s plea,he has no right to kill anyone even if other person had committed blasphemy. Only proper forum(court) has authority to decide if accused is guilty and how he should be punished. Recommend
I’am ashamed that it us soo long after so many lives lost to such beliefs, let there be justice finally! Please, let there be justice for the sake of Pakistan and its people.
HangMumtazQadriRecommend
Finally the terrorist will pay for his crimes.Recommend
as nation we are growing upRecommend
I am really concerned why it took SC so long to reach this decision. The man killed the Governor in broad daylight in front of witnesses. He was asking the SC to legalize murder in the name of the religion! And the SC actually considered his request?!?!?Recommend
Great News.
Well done SUPREME COURT of PAKISTAN Recommend
Skunk. Should be hanged and humiliated as well. Recommend
Served him right, its up to Allah and him in afterlife. for now he has committed a crime and killed a person and should be punished accordingly.Recommend
Justice done……….now it has to be seen to have been done.
The worrying aspect during this whole episode as that a perception was developing that justice would not be done……now hopefully that has been put to rest.Recommend
I have regained confidence in Pakistan’s supreme court.Recommend
A judgement of historic proportions, indeed. Recommend
Hail the Supreme Court for upholding the truth.
Qadri must be hanged in public and made an example of.Recommend
Well Done SCP. Excellent Decision. Hope they will not wait too long now for hanging to take place. Recommend
Yes, Qadri should be hanged but think again that why any blasphemy could not be hanged todate while here is law in Pakistan. Recommend
Biased decision. Qadri is a hero, undoubtedly.Recommend
Well done SC!
And congratulations to government for successful prosecution Recommend
Great, courageous decision. For once, I’m proud of our SC. A great day for the rule of law in Pakistan.Recommend
But, will he be hanged?Recommend
@Raisani:
Shame on you! think if some one have killed your son or family member on false blasphemy acquisition! Recommend
My Trust in this country restored. God bless Justice Khosa.Recommend
Good Judgment. Now don’t waste time in hanging him. Or else there will be sympathizers for him for everywhere. Recommend
A defining verdict by Supreme Court. Mumtaz Qadri should be hanged now without further delay and his defense lawyer’s license should be cancelled eternally who ridiculously was a retired Judge, it can be imagined how he would have been served justice. Recommend
Qadris supporters have on conscience or respect for human life. His counsel an ex judge has very
narrow outlook on religion.Recommend
@Raisani:
I am ashamed to be a fellow citizen of a man like youRecommend
i think thats the good decision given by SC coz if someone is left on the mercy of blashfamy without adopting n applying the law rules n regulations , then it’d be common in time to kill anyone in the name of blashfamy so it’s appreciatable verdict by SCP ..Recommend
@Raisani:
Shame on you. He is a cold blooded murderer who will be punished not only in this life but the life thereafter. Inshallah… Recommend
Very WELL said Azzy.Recommend
The great and brave decision. Salute to Judges Recommend
Great decision Justices questioned that no on can be allowed to become Judge, jury and executioner all in one. Mumtaz Qadri acted as one.
The bench upheld the anti terrorist court’s decision and restored the death sentence. Qadri was influenced by demagogues who declare Taseer a blasphemer. The counsel for the killer Justice (R) Nazir Akhtar contended that punishing blasphemer was religious duty enjoined on everyone . He contended that in Blasphemy words also matter though intention to commit blasphemy not be as relevant.
Allama Hanif Qureshi declared Mumtaz as a hero. These type of fundamentalist brainwash idiots like Mumtaz Qadri. By upholding the death sentence Supreme Court has vindicated liberal thinking. Justice has been served. Recommend
wonderful news. no one has the right to injure a fellow pakistani. if you do commit violence in society you shall be removed from it.
let others learn from this.Recommend
Historical Decision. Well Done Pakistan. Recommend
great, great, great, great, great. I am so happy to hear this. I see some hope for the future. this is just wonderful. great, amazing, outstanding. Bravo supreme court. love ya for this!Recommend
Why was Taseer made a governor and why did he insult others due to his wealth and status and did he have any right to make governor house his personal and party symbol?Recommend
Mirza Nazeer Akhtar counsel of Qadri said that other elite force personnel did not react.Now they should be charged for not showing their interest as if they were all conspiringRecommend
I can not understand as to why supporters of Qadri are upset with Supreme Court Decision.
According to them he is a Ghaazi and will be heading directly to Janat. Why do they want his departure to Janat delayed. In fact they should go with him. Good opportunity for them.
MR1970Recommend
May be there is hope for Pakistan.Recommend
He should be hanged with his counselRecommend
I agree with Mohammad. By hanging Mumtaz Qadri, the court is granting his wish of making him a shaheed so why was his death sentence even appealed by him and his supporters. Isn’t shahadat way better than being a ghazi…after all that is what all Muslims aspire to.Recommend
@kharal. Governors are not elected. They are representatives of tge federal govt. Anyone can be chosen to be governor it os discretion. Salman taseer was highly educated and was the 4th largest tax payer in punjab. He contributed a lot to our economy by establishing businesses. He also struggled for ur rights during the zia era and was jailed repeatedly. He was a rare honest politician in the peoples party. He did noft use hos position to offend mor imsult. He just pointed oit defects and misuse of a law. Of someone took offence its becaise they did not want to understand.Recommend
I am glad to read that 99.99% of the Pakistanis on this board are hailing the SC decision… long live pakistan… Recommend
I recall the day the news of Mr. Salman Taseer being murdered in Kohsar market came to me. I was in the Government Office siting late in Islamabad. The moment i shared this with my colleagues,instead of reacting to the news they told me it was destined to happen.They were some of the brightest and most educated people. I felt that this is the voice of masses.I soon realized the pakistani society is intolerant when it comes to religion and most of the people go with them. Mullah is the factor which is is residing in their minds. Supreme Court has given a decision that is not popular but i salute SC for this decision.Recommend