Hundreds of people staged rallies across the country on Friday demanding the release of Mumtaz Qadri, the police commando sentenced to death for killing Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, who wanted to reform the controversial blasphemy laws. Qadri, one of Taseer’s bodyguards, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death.
He said he objected to Taseer’s calls to amend the blasphemy law, which mandates the death penalty for those convicted of defaming Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). On Thursday he filed an appeal against his death sentence. About 1,000 people gathered at Islamabad’s main Aabpara intersection demanding Qadri’s release. The protesters, including supporters of religious parties and students of local madrassas, chanted slogans such as “Qadri is hero” and “We salute his courage”.
They called for Qadri to be released immediately and shouted: “We are ready to sacrifice our lives for the honour of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).” Rallies were also held in several other cities including Karachi, Quetta, Multan and Rawalpindi, where witnesses said protesters blocked roads by burning tyres. Religious parties had called for shops and markets to shut down in protest at Qadri’s incarceration, but reports said the call was not heeded, with establishments in most areas remaining open.
Clerics said in their Friday sermons at mosques that Qadri’s verdict was in conflict with the constitution, as according to the Holy Quran and the Sunnah the sentence should be overturned and Qadri should be released. They also demanded dismissal of the trial judge and vowed to continue their movement until Qadri’s release.
LAHORE: In Lahore, the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) held a demonstration on Multan Road near Mansoora, where JI Secretary General Liaquat Baloch said Qadri had adopted the path of Ghazi Ilmud Din and he did not deserve conviction. The city remained silent for much of the day as traders observed a complete shutter-down strike. Major markets and commercial areas in the provincial capital remained closed in order to avoid any losses as various parties had announced protests after Friday prayers.
Urdu Bazar, Anarkali, Akbari Mandi, Hall Road, Azam Cloth Market, Ferozepur Road, Ichhra Market, Paper Market and other important business centres remained closed.
KARACHI: In Karachi, a demonstration was held outside the Masjid-e-Khizra. JI Karachi chief Muhammad Husain Mehanti, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP)’s Siddique Rathore and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam’s Mufti Usman Yar told the rally that Qadri’s conviction was unconstitutional. A partial strike was observed in parts of the city after a strike call given by the Sunni Ittehad Council in protest against Qadri’s conviction.
Shootouts were reported in Korangi, Landhi, New Karachi, Shah Faisal Colony, Gulistan-e-Johar, Samanabad and few other areas of Karachi in the wee hours of Friday. Three public buses were set ablaze in the city’s Korangi and Orangi Town areas. A Sunni Tehreek activist was also gunned down in Samanabad. According to police, the man was killed by his party fellows who were trying to force the shops in the area to shut down. In Multan, a protest rally was held at Clock Tower.
Religious parties rally for Qadri
