The verdict of Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) Rawalpindi awarding death plenty to Mumtaz Qadri, the self-confessed assassin of former Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer, has been challenged in Islamabad High Court.
Accepting the appeal filed by Advocates Malik Rafique, Tariq Mahmmad Dhamial and Raja Shuja-ur-Rehman, the IHC fixed the matter for October 11 for hearing. The counsels pleaded that under section 6 of the Anti Terrorism Act Qadri had not committed an act of terrorism by killing Taseer.
“The case was illegally entrusted to the anti-terrorism court. The elements of terrorism as defined in section 6 of the Anti Terrorism Act are completely lacking in the present case,” the appeal petition stated. Rafiq contended that trial court’s caterogisation of Qadri’s offense as terrorism was “completely arbitrary and baseless”. He submitted that there was no evidence that panic and sense of insecurity was created at the time of Taseer’s death, rather people were relieved. The petitioners pleaded that Qadri’s case did not fall under section 302 of Pakistan Penal Code as he killed a blasphemer. “While holding that individual, cannot be allowed to execute the punishment qua a person guilty the offence of blasphemy, the trial court totally ignored the Islamic Law and Judgment pronounced by the Holy Prophet in a number of cases,” the lawyers contended in appeal.
They requested the court to declare ATC-II’s verdict as illegal and null and void and Qadri be released. Meanwhile, dozens of Qadri’s supporters gathered in front of IHC and raised slogans in favour of Qadri. After filing appeal, Qadri’s counsel Rafiq said Taseer deserved to be killed for blaspheming.
