The law upheld
Salman Taseer had not been charged or indicted but Mumtaz Qadri decided he was to be judge, jury and executioner

A file photo of Mumtaz Qadri PHOTO: AFP
However, the Supreme Court decision does speak clearly and emphatically for the rule of law. The rule of law has to be paramount even if individuals and institutions disagree with it — and while this newspaper does not support the death penalty, it does support and respect the rule of law. The decision also speaks of the courage of the members of the superior judiciary who in making this decision are quite possibly putting their own lives at hazard.
For too long, individuals and courts have been bullied into silence owing to the influence of violent extremists. This landmark decision signifies that we can’t allow such elements to dictate terms any longer and stifle debate on important matters. Mr Taseer had broken no law, not been charged or indicted, but Qadri decided that he was to be judge, jury and executioner. As the Supreme Court correctly observed at an earlier hearing “that way lies chaos”. It does, and the Supreme Court judged wisely.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 9th, 2015.
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