Pak HC reserves judgement in Taseer murder case

A high court in Pakistan today reserved its judgement on an appeal against death sentence to a former police bodyguard convicted for the 2011 murder of ex-Governor of Punjab province Salman Taseer, who had sought reform of blasphemy laws.
The two-member bench of Islamabad High Court, comprising Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi and Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, reserved its judgment after hearing the case against Mumtaz Qadri, who was convicted by an anti-terror court.
As the defence lawyers completed arguments, insisting that a person committing blasphemy can be killed under certain circumstances, the judges asked whether "the court should follow rule of law or emotions."

Meanwhile, Taseer's children Shaan Taseer, Sara Taseer and Sanam Taseer filed an application requesting the court to reject the appeal of Qadri, the self-confessed killer.
Earlier, Qadri's counsel former chief justice of the Lahore High Court Khawaja Muhammad Sharif told the court that the legal heirs were not keen to pursue the case.
In their application, the complainant stated that they did not receive any court notice in this regard.

"It is disrespectful, abhorrent and irresponsible; the counsel should be prevented from making any such statement on behalf of persons whom he does not represent," they said.
They maintained the accused had committed a heinous murder in cold blood and does not deserve mercy. They also said the accused was a traitor as he murdered the former governor during duty.

Qadri has been given death sentence by an anti-terror court for killing Taseer outside an upmarket coffee shop in Islamabad in 2011.
Qadri has admitted shooting Taseer, saying he objected to the politician's calls to reform strict blasphemy laws which can carry the death penalty.
It is not yet announced when the High Court will give its verdict.