Convict sent to gallows at 4:30am after president dismisses clemency appeal; demos break out in protest; Metro Bus service suspended
RAWALPINDI: Mumtaz Qadri, the ex-police commando who was convicted for killing former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, was sent to the gallows at the Adiala Jail early on Monday morning, jail sources said followed by confirmation by the Punjab government.
Qadri was hanged at 4.30 am after President Mamnoon Hussain dismissed his clemency appeal. He was awarded death by an anti-terrorism court for killing Salmaan Taseer in Islamabad on January 4, 2011 while the apex court also upheld his death sentence last October.
Jail authorities arranged Qadri’s meeting with his family and later his body was handed over to the family and moved from the jail amid tight security. Qadri shot Taseer 28 times in broad daylight in Islamabad’s Kohsar Market. He was sentenced to death on Oct 1 the same year.
The residents of the twin-cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad faced difficulties after protests broke out within hours of the execution by the supporters of Mumtaz Qadri. A group of miscreants blocked the Islamabad Highway and blocked traffic by putting up hurdles.
As many as 10 media workers sustained serious andminor injuries when the troublemakers attacked them as well as the DSMGs of different TV channels. Strict security measures were taken on the jail premises and heavy contingents of law enforcement agency (LEA) personnel were deployed at different points in the twin cities to avoid any untoward incident. All routes leading to the Adiala Jail were sealed.
The Supreme Court in October last maintained his conviction by an Anti Terrorism Court, overturning the 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.
The government had approached the apex court for adding terrorism charges as a second offence to the punishment. The court warned at the time that in Islam a false accusation can be as serious as the blasphemy itself, and that calls for blasphemy law reform “ought not to be mistaken as a call for doing away with that law”.
The Supreme Court dismissed Qadri’s review petition, with the judge heading the bench observing that the petition could neither establish errors floating in the judgment nor blasphemy charges against the former governor.
Protests were recorded in most major towns of the country against the execution, with busy routes including the Islamabad Express Highway, Islamabad-Lahore Motorway (M- 2) and GT Road partially or fully blocked by demonstrations.
Heavy contingents of Rangers and police dressed in riot gear as well as ambulances were stationed outside Qadri’s home in Rawalpindi.
The metro bus service in Islamabad was also suspended as protestors occupied the bus track. Traffic disruption due to protests was reported from some Karachi areas, with Malir 15 flyover, the National Highway Karachi and Hub River road leading to Balochistan blocked.
In Hyderabad, protesters burnt tyres against Qadri’s hanging. The proscribed Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat (ASWJ) carried out a protest demonstration and chanted anti-government slogans in Muzaffarabad against the execution.
Heavy contingents of Islamabad police were deployed to avert chaos and anarchy and to check miscreants’ entry to the federal capital. Approximately, 300 protesters holding clubs and stones rushed towards the DSNGs and media persons at Faizabad flyover who rushed towards the Islamabad Expressway.
The protesters smashed the windscreen of various media vehicles and hit journalists with sticks and clubs. On other side, police stayed aloof in the presence of SSP Sajid Kayani leaving journalists with no option but to rescue themselves from the charged mob.
The commuters of the twin cities suffered the most owing to the blockade of Faizabad flyover, as thousands of people commute daily between the two cities from this main avenue of the capital city.
Islamabad police remained on high alert and also enhanced security at all check points of the city. Police officials said all the main roads of the capital city could also be blocked by placing containers to avert any untoward situation. Preliminary proactive measures are being taken to restrict and confine the protesters at Faizabad.
