Mumtaz Qadri lawyer hails Charlie Hebdo attackers as 'heroes'
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ISLAMABAD: A lawyer for Mumtaz Qadri, the killer of former Punjab governor Salman Taseer, said the Charlie Hebdo attackers were his heroes.
Qadri's counsel Barrister Khawaja Sharif made the statement about the attack on the French magazine during a hearing of an appeal filed in the Islamabad High Court against his client's conviction.
A two-member appellate court comprising IHC's Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi and Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui heard the appeal today.
Read more: Mumtaz Qadri’s legal team outnumbers police presence at IHC
Justice Siddiqui said he "could not even think of having a discussion on the issue of blasphemy" and added that no discussion could take place in support of blasphemers.
He added that no one could be allowed to take the law in their hands.
Islamabad Additional Advocate General Mian Abdul Rauf represented the federal government during the hearing as it failed to nominate a prosecutor in the case.
During the hearing, counsel for Mumtaz Qadri and former Lahore High Court chief justice Khawaja Mohammad Sharif told the court that there was no conflict between his client and the late governor.
Presenting his arguments, Sharif told the court that his client had no personal enmity with Salman Taseer and that Qadri had submitted his confessional statement under police pressure.
Also read: Qadri case file ‘vanishes’ from court records
Sharif read out the statement recorded by his client in the presence of a magistrate in which Qadri confessed to have requested the moharar of the Elite Force to depute him with the governor.
The statement further said that he had been posted on guard duty with the governor all day long.
Qadri's statement added that he had no personal resentment against Taseer nor was he under any pressure to kill him.
The statement added that the governor had committed blasphemy by terming the blasphemy law as a 'black law'.
Advocate Sharif further read out that his client had an altercation before the incident and that he was arrested by another guard after the killing.
The statement added that Waqas, a friend of the slain governor, was also present on the site at the time of the incident but he chose not to become a witness in the case.
Another defence lawyer for Qadri, retired Justice Mian Nazir Akhtar presented his arguments against the inclusion of Section 6 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) against his client.
He was of the view that the incident had not stirred any terror and there were no witnesses to testify the same.
He further said that Section 6 of the ATA had been included additionally.
The court adjourned the hearing of the case to Feb 6.
Punjab governor Salman Taseer was assassinated by his security guard associated with the Punjab Elite Force, Mumtaz Qadri, on Jan 4, 2011 at Kohsar Market in Islamabad.
Qadri was awarded the death sentence by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Oct 2011.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (89) Closed
Feb 04, 2015 03:53pm
These so called lawyers who ignore the law in favor of radical religion should go to join ISIS or the Taliban...clearly they have no need for civilized society and think that murder of a governor can be justified by fanatic religion....they Pakistanis look like complete fools..
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Feb 04, 2015 03:54pm
What sad state of affairs when murderer of sitting governor is hail s hero. Please send this case to military court because there is no hope for Taser family ever getting justice from civilian courts.
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Feb 04, 2015 04:02pm
You murder someone in plain daylight in Kohsar market. How is that not terrorism? #HangQadri
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Feb 04, 2015 04:12pm
I think the sanity has left us forever.
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Feb 04, 2015 04:13pm
Kill anyone, throw live human beings into live fire and then take protection under the judicial system, where nobody is even prepared to say a word against him. The judges , witnesses even the government institutions are terrified of these insane culprits. What a nation we are.
And shame on those lawless creatures known as the lawyers.
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Feb 04, 2015 04:14pm
Ignorant mullahs of ISIS.
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Feb 04, 2015 04:14pm
Ex chief justice defending a proclaimed killer, it's frightening?
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Feb 04, 2015 04:15pm
@Eddied you are the biggest fool. Get off our news sites, why do you what happens in Pakistan weirdo. Like I give a hoot about what is happening in your country.
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Feb 04, 2015 04:16pm
i am sure billion support this killing.this guy only told the hearts of billion!
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Feb 04, 2015 04:17pm
These five individuals should not have been merited by Dawn to make headline.
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Feb 04, 2015 04:18pm
Wow..... Is hisaab se to Osama-bin-laden is your freedom fighter as a National Hero and celebrate him with announcing a national holiday. Universal truth is- Society makes country. And sadly,this is the dominant society of Pakistan.
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Feb 04, 2015 04:24pm
Wow dawn promoting a terroirst
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Feb 04, 2015 04:32pm
Nab the lawyer for 'hate speech'.
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Feb 04, 2015 04:38pm
The Qadri story that just keeps on giving .... in tragi-comic proportions, but for the fact that the matter is so serious. Today's instalment confirms that even the great bard Shakespear could not have dreamt-up anything so epically tragic in national terms. Two supposed most learned gentlemen of the law, no less than a former Lahore High Court Chief Justice, Khawaja Mohammad Sharif, and the retired Justice, Main Nazir Akthar, use tenuous legalese to defend someone who murdered another sworn officer of the land, a Governor, no less. Worse, one of the appellant Justices, Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, says he "could not even think of having a discussion on the issue of blasphemy" and added that no discussion could take place in support of blasphemers. There is simply no hope if Pakistant's justice system is presided over by such men. More power to the military courts.
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Feb 04, 2015 04:42pm
This country is doomed regardless of military courts, civil courts or kangaroo courts. Its the CONSTITUTION people. As long as we have a constitution that discriminates on religious ground, pakistan can never have peace. Even if 1000 Imran Khans try together to build Naya Pakistan. It just will no work. Wake up and smell the gunpowder.
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Feb 04, 2015 04:43pm
The duty of a guard is to protect the one he is ordered to guard . Qadri killed a person who he was duty bound to guard so question of blasphemy does not arise here .He is guilty of two crimes ,one dereliction of duty in addition to committing a murder (which he committed in the presence many witnesses).His defence lawyers despite being retired judges are totally mislead and their arguments are basically groundless and spurious.
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Feb 04, 2015 04:46pm
After these remarks of IHC judge, I think case shall be closed and Mumtaz Qadri shall be released to carry on his preaching of hatred --- "Justice Siddiqui said he "could not even think of having a discussion on the issue of blasphemy" and added that no discussion could take place in support of blasphemers."
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Feb 04, 2015 04:47pm
@Shuaib Bhat correct take revolver,or become a suicide bomber let us finish him off
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Feb 04, 2015 04:52pm
Are we going to do something to this lawyer?. Probably not. We make heroes out of terrorists and murderers.
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Feb 04, 2015 04:52pm
The intention under which the act he committed, no doubt, apparently got admiration of the all muslims but at the same time, Islam does not allow any individual to take the law in his hand. No doubt the sentence for the blasphemy is death, but it is not the individual who are authority to award sentence. if it be allowed, than anyone had justification to kill other on this account. the act might be worthy to praise, but the way he did can not justified. first he should resort to law and proof that. in case he proof the allegation and even than the victim escape, than it can be justified as in the case of Ghazi Illam Din case.
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Feb 04, 2015 04:53pm
Please give him to the Army courts and forget about him.
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Feb 04, 2015 04:57pm
I am just amazed at these sherwani-clad famous attorneys and their strange logic. This is not about blasphemy, this is a murder trial. Earlier, the retired chief justice said (as reported in Urdu newspapers) that the late governor was married with a non-Muslim and had a son also. What relevancy that has with the present murder trial. How trained attorneys and jurist can use pure emotions in a judicial proceedings. One more thing, this is not a trial, this is an appeal where the witnesses should not belong.
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Feb 04, 2015 05:14pm
former Lahore High Court Chief Justice, Khawaja Mohammad Sharif, and the retired Justice, Main Nazir Akthar, should be investigated, if they have released some of terrorist during their tenure as justice...Raheel shareef should look into the matters to prosecute helpers of terrorists, because we donot have any hope from sitting government,
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Feb 04, 2015 05:16pm
"Justice Siddiqui said he "could not even think of having a discussion on the issue of blasphemy"
Well then you should step down sir if you're clearly not fit to fulfil your duty as a judge.
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Feb 04, 2015 05:21pm
That is why, degrees are not important, education is important. Pakistan's biggest problem after terrorism is these uneducated degree holders.
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Feb 04, 2015 05:39pm
@Adeel well said bro lol.
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Feb 04, 2015 05:48pm
An appaling state of affairs! Islam never ever taught this. These ridiculous statements are actually portraying a wrong picture of Islam to others and are tarnishing image of Islam in the eyes of world. The love for religion and Holy Prophet (PBUH) can best be shown by following, practicing and adopting what they demand of us.
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Feb 04, 2015 05:56pm
@v4u
No, it did NOT get admiration of ALL muslims. Qadri's is just another disgusting act of murder bringing the majority of muslims to shame. Islam does not preach murder and considers it the worst crime against humanity!! These shameless judges and lawyers reflect the mentality of a sick minority within the religion which, because of the apathy or silence of the rest of us is hijacking our beliefs. What sort of a biased judge is this who is not even willing to hear two sides of an argument before reaching a conclusion! Human righters, this is the infallible reality that justifies the need for military courts.
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Feb 04, 2015 05:58pm
why is this case not referred to the army courts?
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Feb 04, 2015 06:03pm
I don't know what will happen to Pakistan.
This is not the way Islam teaches us to go an kill another human just because he makes some jokes about prophet.
I am sure if Prophet alive today he will forgive anyone who make fun of him, this is how he spread Islam on bases of Love not violence.
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Feb 04, 2015 06:04pm
Military courts will at least stop this & save Pakistan the daily embarrassment....
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Feb 04, 2015 06:04pm
No one is above Law, qadri is a cold blooded murderer so hang him high
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Feb 04, 2015 06:06pm
A nation at war with itself.
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Feb 04, 2015 06:07pm
@Joe : Who is not a cold blooded murderer now a days... so all should be hanged high but wait....who will hang alll...
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Feb 04, 2015 06:09pm
@Eddied
The accused has the right to have lawyers to defend him/her. You cannot blame a lawyer as to why he is defending a murderer. It depends upon his competence to get minimum punishment for his client. This case is not any exception. The lawyer is not ignoring the law but fulfilling the provisions of law.
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Feb 04, 2015 06:11pm
The same comments can easily heard on mosque loud extraloud speaker!
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Feb 04, 2015 06:19pm
how can you expect any proof given by India against terrorists to hold up in your courts when it is difficult to prosecute the killer of your own governor. A killer who has confessed to a crime is being hailed as a national hero. Its a national shame.
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Feb 04, 2015 06:20pm
These lawyers are doing against law.
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Feb 04, 2015 06:22pm
@Rizwan Khan
Do you think a former Chief Justice of High Court in not "educated"? Problem is the twisted logic of self proclaimed defenders of our faith.
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Feb 04, 2015 06:22pm
Dawn, after Dec 16, most of the media took decision to not to give any coverage to any elements who are pro terrorism.They should not give any coverage to Qadri's sympathizers.
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Feb 04, 2015 06:41pm
Can't you feel the bias in all the judges and lawyers ? This is not what Islam teaches. May Allah have mercy
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Feb 04, 2015 06:51pm
@Riaz - Yes, Qadri has a right have a lawyer to defend him but what his lawyer can't say is that "the Charlie Hebdo attackers were his heroes". That's insane
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Feb 04, 2015 07:16pm
This case is unnecessarily lingering on.
Send this case to military court. That is the only way justice can be served.
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Feb 04, 2015 07:24pm
What else would you expect from them?
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Feb 04, 2015 07:27pm
wasn't there a law passed recently against this type of speech?
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Feb 04, 2015 07:37pm
The court should bring the culprit into justice.
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Feb 04, 2015 07:56pm
Now God save Pakistan.
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Feb 04, 2015 07:59pm
Shame to such system and inhumane society of Pakistan. What Pakistan is facing against the world is NO SECRET and a shame to the country and a peaceful religion of Islam which do NOT teach killing.
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Feb 04, 2015 08:00pm
@Eddied .....TALIBAN are a people who come from a race known for centuries as mercenarirs.According to one Indian official in Afghanistan,he said all you need is,pay an Afghan and he will work for any mission
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Feb 04, 2015 08:26pm
Where is the Tolerance gone in our society. It hurts when someone attacks our belief system and our Prohphet Muhammed (PBUH). Remember that the people who published those cartoons are not muslim.
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Feb 04, 2015 08:39pm
@KhalidS
We need to go back to the original constitution framed by the founders of this country.
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Feb 04, 2015 08:44pm
@Adnan
CORRECTLY SAID AND WELL SAID!
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Feb 04, 2015 08:44pm
Only country in the world where extra judicial killing is supported and protected by Chief Justices and lawyer community. Bravo, what a kangaroo judicial system and a community.
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Feb 04, 2015 09:04pm
@Riaz "The accused has the right to have lawyers to defend him/her. You cannot blame a lawyer as to why he is defending a murderer. It depends upon his competence to get minimum punishment for his client. This case is not any exception. The lawyer is not ignoring the law but fulfilling the provisions of law."
You are correct but when the judge makes his bias clear, that does not show things in a good light.
Also please remember, no lawyer was willing to defend Aafia Siddiqui and those who tried to defend got death threats. Does she not enjoy the same rights as Qadri?
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Feb 04, 2015 09:05pm
He can hail whoever he likes I am sure there were people who hailed Genghiz Khan, Hitler, Stalin.... as heroes too, that is his personal choice.
What is troubling though is his "no discussion" mind set reflective of his extremist views and his guy used to be a Judge. I wonder how he upheld the Islamic and judicial principle of "Adal" during his official work, with his extremist mind set.
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Feb 04, 2015 09:16pm
Just read about a guy building 141 schools in remembrance of the school children martyred on 16/12 in Peshawar . I was Wondering why Pakistan is in such a sorry state with people like him in Pakistan . And then I got to read about this guy and all my confusion was removed .
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Feb 04, 2015 09:26pm
@Zahid.USA My point is stop fighting everyone who offends you especially when the offenders are thousands of miles away in a different country. Focus your energy on improving Pakistan.
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Feb 04, 2015 09:30pm
Shame on Pakistani lawyers for defending the brutal killer Qadri. How can any normal human being justify the murder of an innocent man. These lawyers have made me ashamed of being a Pakistani citizen.
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Feb 04, 2015 09:30pm
@Salmaan You are right
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Feb 04, 2015 09:55pm
Sorry we still haven't hanged this guy. I mean this guy killed Salman Taseer and has acknowledged it
This is so sad.
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Feb 04, 2015 09:57pm
just imagine the state of 'justice' that must have been provided by the former LHC CJ during his tenure, whose mental state is depicted by his support for terrorists nationally and internationally. shame on such judges.
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Feb 04, 2015 10:07pm
It would be worth finding out as to who is actually paying for his defense....to believe that they are doing it out of love is naive.
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Feb 04, 2015 10:08pm
Why these terrorists are speaking their venom in a civilized society? Why is government not doing something to STOP this venom or poison??? This poison is destroying the very basis of the Pakistani Nation!!!!! Please understand this!!! I love Pakistan and I am telling you from the bottom of my heart!!! Hang their lawyers too!!! This is time to put the foot down!!
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Feb 04, 2015 10:19pm
@Doc PhD USA Shame to US administration aw well, who killed thousands in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan.....
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Feb 04, 2015 10:20pm
@Zahid.USA you better teach the west.
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Feb 04, 2015 10:47pm
Charlie Hebdo has attacked the Pope, Christians etc too. France is a Christian country and there has not been a single retaliation again CH. Muslims too should learn to ignore senseless comments or articles written against Islam.
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Feb 04, 2015 10:47pm
"..The statement added that the governor had committed blasphemy by terming the blasphemy law as a 'black law'..."
Even if for one second we assume that the governor did commit blasphemy then who was Qadri to carry out the judgement and the execution? Shouldn't the governor be tried in the court of law and be convicted for any punishment if proven guilty? What a load of nonsense this is.
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Feb 04, 2015 10:50pm
And they are the protector (muhafiz) of the justice system in Pakistan...Wow!!! What A Cournty.
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Feb 04, 2015 10:50pm
@Hassan - "...Ex chief justice defending a proclaimed killer, it's frightening?.."
It is simply exposing what these people really are. What is frightening to me is that this person presided as a judge with these believes and might have convicted people based on his narrow views.
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Feb 04, 2015 10:51pm
@v4u - I dint know where you guys get this thing about "admiration of the all muslims". The fact is you guys are seriously misinformed!!!
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Feb 04, 2015 10:52pm
Ignorant pos. shameful and disgrace to legal profession.
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Feb 04, 2015 11:06pm
This is where we wish for military courts...
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Feb 04, 2015 11:14pm
A lawyer that thinks extra-judicial killings are justified should be disbarred.
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Feb 04, 2015 11:23pm
These lawyers sound like members of ISIS. I think the government should start case against them for hate speech
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Feb 04, 2015 11:36pm
It defies all senses, logic and any human decency to see these so called Lawyers and a retired judge of Pakistan defending the killer Mumtaz Kadri by implying that he did NO wrong. Pakistan is no longer a country. It is a Zoo where the animals are running the show. When you have Lawyers and Judges like these; who needs the terrorists?
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Feb 04, 2015 11:48pm
An ex CJ of a HC and another retired judge representing a terrorist?? What sort of nation have we become?
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Feb 04, 2015 11:56pm
You guys are sick. Because of you, it is embarrassing to be a Pakistani in front of the civilized world. Go and put your head inside a sandbox never to bring it out.
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Feb 05, 2015 01:03am
New Qadris would emerge to kill people in the broad day light if this killer is not brought to book..
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Feb 05, 2015 01:09am
This would be 'news' if this esteemed lawyer had OPPOSED it (the whatever-whatever by some nonsensical French publication) ... I rather think that THIS publication is only regurgitating such stories to increase its readership -- that is about all...!!
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Feb 05, 2015 01:12am
We ourselves our moral and don't distinguish between right and wrong. Calling terrorist a hero is also wrong which is also unislamic. West may have no morals but real Muslims show better character than this.
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Feb 05, 2015 03:04am
He will walk free unless sent to military courts ....a murderer amongst us......what a sad story .....he should be hanged in public
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Feb 05, 2015 03:05am
Welcome to France Barrister Khawaja Sharif. Your mind is deranged. By supporting a self confessed murderer you are ridiculing Islam. Criticizing Hebdo you are denying freedom of expression which is evry human's God given right. Our prophet, believe me, can look after Himself. He doesn't need living bearders who are inclined to criminality in the name of Islam. Shame on all of you. Pity the mothers who begat you lot.
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Feb 05, 2015 03:20am
@Shuaib Bhat Everyone has a right to his/her own opinion, if you dont like it, then dont read it, plain and simple
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Feb 05, 2015 05:48am
Its about time all Law related degrees in Pakistan be regarded as null and void.
The twisted logic and fanaticism that these lawyers/judges harbour is frightening.
22nd Ammendment needed to halt the whole of judiciary in Pakistan.
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Feb 05, 2015 05:52am
A society devoid of justice and knowledge is indeed doomed. If Salman Taseer said
something abominable he should have been tried but why would a guard employed
to protect an officer of the State of Pakistan should take the law in his own hands.This aspect of the case be amplified and tried on its own merit otherwise no one is safe.if such
precendents are sanctified and made holy.
By the same token what about the Mosques which are bombed and the Holy Quran which are burnt .Does not that tantamount to Blasphemy . Yet we read of ISIS, Saudi forces, Taliban and their ilk doing the same. Why? Are they beholden to some other law.. And who has been reposed with the authority to interpret Islamic Jurisprudence.And what guarantee is there that the crucial decisions are not tainted by Sect bias or by sheer ignorance.
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Feb 05, 2015 06:01am
A barrister to boot. By the way what hurt Islam more, the cartoons published by Charlie Hebedo or the people who killed the cartoonists? It is people like these who give Islam a bad name. Think of ISIS who burnt a Jordanian Muslim pilot alive.
These people are all birds of a feather and need to be put to rout.
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Feb 05, 2015 06:20am
Keep going down the drain, this is what these taxpayers boots have done to once peaceful country.
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Feb 05, 2015 06:34am
Now that's what I call a terrorist. Kills an innocent in public, makes no bones about it and then supports more killers.
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Feb 05, 2015 06:41am
@Shuaib Bhat it's not solution of problem. Your action is like as Pakistani government and he is not ready to accept his guilty and mispolicy of country . There are only problem that any individual person can penalize to any person behalf of government or state ? This is main question. Who authorized quadri to kill salman taseer.
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