PESHAWAR, Feb 2: Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Prof Muhammad Ibrahim said on Wednesday that former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer was responsible for his comments about the blasphemy law, which led to his killing, and the accused Malik Mumtaz Qadri should be released.

“The accused Malik Mumtaz Qadri has committed no crime and he should be released,” said Prof Ibrahim, who is also the JI provincial amir, while speaking at a press conference at Al-Markaz-i-Islami here.

He asked the government to stop supporting Nato forces and reject American pressure for military operations in parts of the country. He expressed grave concern over the killing of three Pakistani citizens by an American national in Lahore and asked for awarding capital punishment to him.

The JI leader said that the accused was not a diplomat, but a killer. He said that in case of any pressure on the government the entire nation would take a unified stand against the US, but it was duty of the rulers to provide justice to the affected families.

On the occasion, he announced that a Namoos-e-Risalat rally would be held in Peshawar on February 20 in which all the religious parties would participate. The JI activists Shabbir Ahmed, Israrullah Khan and Bahrullah were also present on the occasion.

Prof Ibrahim claimed that if the government released the American accused the rulers would have to face Egypt-like situation. He said that Aafia Siddiqui had not committed any crime and asked for her immediate release.—Bureau Report