Source: BBCNews / 1 October 2011
A Pakistani court has found guilty and sentenced to death the police bodyguard who killed Punjab Governor Salman Taseer in January.
Mumtaz Qadri had confessed to murder on the grounds that he objected to Mr Taseer’s calls to amend the country’s controversial blasphemy law.
Critics of the law say it can be used to persecute minority faiths and is sometimes exploited for grudges.
The assassination divided Pakistan, with many hailing Qadri as a hero.
Qadri was part of Mr Taseer’s protection team but opened fire on the governor as he was about to get into his car in the capital, Islamabad, on 4 January.
‘Not unlawful’
The trial was held at the high-security Adiyala prison in Rawalpindi and was closed to the media.
“The court announced the death sentence for him,” defence lawyer Shuja-ur-Rehman told AFP news agency.
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Editor’s Note:
The concept of the punishment for blasphemy is widely spread in Muslim countries and this issue remains in headlines. What blasphemy really is? Is it a punishable crime? Does Islam prescribe any punishment for blasphemy? These are some of the main and basic questions when blasphemy issue is discussed. This subject is discussed in details in an article written ‘Islam and Blasphemy’ , please click the link below to find more on this issue.
Categories: Human Rights, Law and Religion, Pakistan
“And there is life for you in the law of retaliation, O men of understanding, that you may enjoy security.” (Al Quran 2:180)
“O ye who believe! equitable retaliation in the matter of the slain is prescribed for you: the free man for the free man, and the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. But if one is granted any remission by one’s brother, then pursuing the matter for the realization of the blood money shall be done with fairness and the murderer shall pay him the blood money in a handsome manner. This is an alleviation from your Lord and a mercy. And whoso transgresses thereafter, for him there shall be a grievous punishment.” (Al Quran 2:179)
I think the punishment should be exercised and all those violent Mullahs who are spoiling the peace of the country should also be sent to paradise on an urgent basis through legal means, whenever possibility presents itself. Unless, of course, all the religious parties of Pakistan repent, repeatedly apologize for their crimes to the nation of Pakistan and arrange drives to create a fund of a billion dollars to not only pay blood money to the Governor’s family, but also to all the other victims of their violence.
While it is highly distasteful to have anybody sentenced to death, it is also a very good deterrent for future murderers.
I saw on television this totally unrepentant murderer of Salman Taseer and the satisfied smile he had on his face when arrested. It gave one the impression that he was sure that he would and could get away with this murder thanks to his various religious fanatic supporters.
And I am so glad to note that this is not the case. I just pray that other equal bent of mind and unknown will now think twice before taking another life in the name of Islam.
We, Ahmadis, have suffered untold grief due to this useless and murderous blasphemy laws in Pakistan, which gives free license to any thug out there to go and kill an Ahmadi in the pursuit of acquiring a short-cut to paradise without much effort on their part.
Fie on them – for the Mullahs who preach this, the government which continues keeping this law in practice and the ignorant masses who apply this thinking that it is a MUST to murder an Ahmadi.
It seems never to pass through their minds that our community makes valuable contributions to Pakistan and the communities that they live within. Also, that being a peaceful community (Ahmadis), they have never retaliated in kind to their abusers, either.
I cannot understand the mentality of a people who can, without giving it a second thought, go and murder another unarmed and innocent human being. One has to be really inhuman and inhumane to do this!
And all this in the name of the most peace loving religion – ISLAM.