Mumtaz Qadri hanged
29 February, 2016
RAWALPINDI: Mumtaz Qadri, a Punjab Police commando convicted of killing former Punjab governor Salman Taseer, was executed at the Adiala Jail early Monday morning.
Qadri was sentenced to death for assassinating Taseer on January 4, 2011, in Islamabad’s Kohsar Market. Qadri said he killed Taseer over what he called the politician's vocal opposition to blasphemy laws of the country.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan in October last year maintained the conviction of Mumtaz Qadri by an Anti Terrorism Court, overturning Islamabad High Court's (IHC) March 9 verdict, which had dismissed Qadri's appeal against his death sentence under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) but accepted his plea to void the Anti Terrorism Act's (ATA) Section 7.
Strict security measures were taken within the jail premises and a heavy contingent of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) personnel were deployed to avoid any untoward incident.
All routes leading to the Adiala Jail were sealed. LEAs personnel were also deployed across the city in view of agitation and protests.
The body of Mumtaz Qadri was handed over to his family members and was moved from the jail under tight security cover.
Qadri's last meeting with his family was arranged late on Sunday night.
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