RAWALPINDI: Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri confessed in the Anti-Terrorism Court on Saturday that he had killed Punjab governor Salman Taseer in Islamabad for his 'blasphemous' statements.

ATC-II Judge Syed Pervez Ali Shah recorded Qadri's statement during an in-camera trial at Adiyala Jail.

Qadri's counsel Raja Shuja-ur-Rehman told reporters outside the prison that his client admitted to killing Mr Taseer and that nobody had instigated him to do so.

He said that Qadri had also submitted a written statement of 40 pages, containing verses from the holy Quran, quotations from the life of the Prophet (PBUH), four decisions of the Caliphs and views of Hanafi, Shafai, Maliki, Hanbali and Jafria schools of thought from the Islamic jurisprudence about blasphemy under section 265-F (5) of the CrPC.

Qadri contended that Salman Taseer had committed blasphemy under these references and, every person who committed such act or supported a blasphemer or doubted that the punishment of blasphemer was unjustified or practically tried to abolish sentence for commission of blasphemy, was liable to death.

The defence lawyer said the prosecution raised no objection to the statement. The judge, therefore, admitted the statement and made it a part of court record.

Raja Shuja said that Salman Taseer was a national leader and his personal conduct was public property and every citizen had a right to question a leader's conduct.

Strict security measures were made in and outside the jail on the occasion.

The judge adjourned the hearing till Sept 24.