Mumtaz Qadri

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Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri (1985 – February 29, 2016), better known asMumtaz Qadri, was a Pakistani policeman and commando of Elite Police who was convicted of the assassination of Salman Taseer, former Governor of Punjab. He assassinated Salman Taseer after he spoke in favour of Asia Bibi.^[1]

Life and career

Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri was born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. He joinedPunjab Police in 2002 and became member of Elite Police in 2007. In 2010, he joined the squad for the security of former Governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer.^[1]

Murder

On 4 January 2011, he opened fire and killed former Governor of PunjabSalman Taseer at Kohsar Market in Islamabad after he spoke in favour of Asia Bibi who was charged with blasphemy. He killed Taseer with 25 bullets when he was serving as his bodyguard. After the death of Salman Taseer many people spoke in favour of Qadri.^[2]

Arrest and execution

Qadri was arrested and was sent to jail on five day physical remand on 6 January 2011. He appeared in court on 9 January 2011 and confessed that he killed Salman Taseer because of his statement in favour of Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi. During his appearance in court over 300 lawyers offered to do his case for free.^[3] On 10 January 2011, he was sent toAdiala Jail on 14 day judicial remand. Due to security issues his case was held in Adiala Jail on 14 January 2011. He was charged with the murder of the Governor of Punjab. On 10 October 2011, the arrest warrant of Mumtaz Qadri were issued. He filed an appeal against his death warrant in Islamabad High Court on 6 October 2011 and the appeal was admitted on 11 October 2011.^[4] In 2014 a mosque was built in Islamabad after the name of Mumtaz Qadri.^[5] The appeal filed by Qadri was rejected in December 2015.^[6] Mumtaz Qadri was executed on 29 February 2016 at 4:30 AM at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.^[7]

Reaction to the execution

Protests began immediately all over the country against the execution. Lawyers in Islamabad called one day strike. Sunni Tehreek announced protests all over the country. Metrobus Rawalpindi-Islamabad was also suspended due to the protests in the city. Markets and business centres were closed and disturbance in traffic was reported in different locations of Lahore,Karachi and Islamabad.^[8]