ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court rejected on Monday a petition seeking a review of its Oct 7 restoration of death sentence awarded by an anti-terrorism court to Malik Muhammad Mumtaz Qadri, an Elite Force commando who had assassinated on January 4, 2011, then Governor of Punjab Salman Taseer on blasphemy charges.

The review petition was dismissed by a three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa with the observation that the petition could neither establish errors floating in the judgment nor blasphemy cha­rges against the former governor.

The review petition was moved by Advocate Mian Nazir Akhtar on behalf of Mumtaz Qadri, undergoing prison term at the Rawalpindi Adiyala Jail. He had asked the apex court to constitute a larger bench to consider the review petition. The counsel has been pleading for lesser punishment since the convict had no personal enmity with Mr Taseer.

Legal observers believe that the only avenue left for Qadri now is to file a mercy petition before the president, which can bring reprieve if accepted.

While rejecting the review petition the apex court also dismissed the convict’s request for a larger bench with an observation that Qadri had confessed to have carried out the assassination at all stages of the case and had been arrested from the crime scene. The convict had assassinated Salman Taseer outside his residence adjacent to an upscale market in Islamabad.

Later, the apex court in its detailed judgment of Oct 27 held that the issue involved in this case is not as to whether anybody is allowed to commit blasphemy by defiling the sacred name but the real question involved is whether a person is justified in killing another person on his own on the basis of an unverified impression or an un-established perception that the other person has committed blasphemy.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2015

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...