Religious parties offer blood money to Taseer’s family
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KARACHI: Religious parties representing the Barelvi school of thought on Tuesday announced that they would challenge the Islamabad High Court decision to uphold the death sentence awarded to Mumtaz Qadri, who was convicted of killing former Punjab governor Salman Taseer.
They also offered to pay blood money to the deceased governor’s family for the acquittal of the self-confessed killer.
Know more: ‘The court delivered half justice to my client’
Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, leaders of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, the Jamaat Ahle Sunnat, the Pakistan Sunni Tehreek and the Pakistan Sunni Alliance claimed that the government in the name of an operation against terrorism was treating all tolerant and non-violent religious circles in a same way.
“The government is responsible for creating challenges which ultimately increase its own difficulties,” said Shabbir Abu Talib of the JUP.
“Parties representing the Ahle Sunnat school of thought do not want to trigger any chaos or violence. We are ready for a healthy debate on the Mumtaz Qadri issue.”
He said parties of their school of thought had decided to challenge the judgement against Qadri in the Supreme Court and for that meetings with legal experts and senior lawyers were being held.
“We have a key case of Raymond Davis fresh in our memory. The political leadership of the country compromised national security, exploiting the provision in Islam to set that killer [Raymond Davis] free. We are ready to pay much more Khoonbaha (blood money) to the family of Salman Taseer [for Qadri’s release],” said Mr Talib.
The Islamabad High Court on Monday acquitted Qadri of charges of terrorism, but upheld his conviction under the Pakistan Penal Code.
Mumtaz Qadri, Mr Taseer’s gunman and former Punjab police elite force commando, assassinated Salman Taseer in Kohsar market in Islamabad on Jan 4, 2011.
Angry over conviction of Qadri under the penal code, the religious parties hinted at taking it to the streets for his release.
“We will now hold protest demonstrations on Friday,” said Mr Talib. “Our struggle is under democratic norms and will remain peaceful. We are not going to challenge the writ of the state in the name of protest. In Karachi the main Friday protest will be organised at the Numaish traffic intersection.”
He said parties representing the Ahle Sunnat school of thought had called a joint meeting on Saturday to prepare a common strategy for their cause.
Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2015
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Comments (82) Closed
Mar 11, 2015 07:20am
What a sorry state of affair.
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Mar 11, 2015 07:22am
Bad move by these religious parties..may set a bad example and open the doors for sectarian killing in future.
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Mar 11, 2015 07:29am
I hope they don't fall for this. That Mumtaz Qadri is made an example of is imperative to the curbing of the lunacy that is fundamentalism.
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Mar 11, 2015 07:30am
Taseer family should never agree to this sell out.
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Mar 11, 2015 07:31am
thats great. first you blow the person off with a double barreled shotgun and then you pay his family blood money. a win-win situation except for the person who was murdered. strange justice.
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Mar 11, 2015 07:39am
Lovely... The thought Process of these so called religious schools is now out in the open.. Kill , pay up and all is forgiven.. what kind of society is this..
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Mar 11, 2015 07:45am
Strange logic. The blood money is a deviant way of getting a lunatic out of a capital punishment where he will escape the rule of the law. This is a symbolic case where the rule of the law must prevail. Failing to do so will put every one at risk of being targeted by their guards - no one from prime minister to the chief of army staff will be safe. THis religious bigotry must be rooted out where every crime is ignored in the name of religion. The rulers must not forget that the security guards of Indira Gandhi and Anwar Saadat were tried and dealt with according to the law. Alternate is total mayham. whaider@live.com
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Mar 11, 2015 07:46am
Can blood money give a second life to the dead one?
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Mar 11, 2015 07:50am
Shame on them. What kind of people they are?
Also shame on government and Pakistan People Party.
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Mar 11, 2015 07:51am
ecen though i do not know taseer and his family personally.... i can feel the insult and hurt from this article.
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Mar 11, 2015 07:52am
what do these guys know about religion. They hijacked religion for their own benefits.
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Mar 11, 2015 07:54am
And civil society should stand with the Taseer family to ensure Qadri goes to the gallows.
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Mar 11, 2015 07:56am
The judiciary has done their part. Now it is time for religious fanatics to take over and complete the job
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Mar 11, 2015 08:00am
Countering non-democratic forces taking advantage of the liberties without responsibilities of a democratic system must be visited in international political discourse.
Tolerance of the intolerant must be prohibited for Themis with balance scales not to succumb to bigots with AK-47.
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Mar 11, 2015 08:04am
You guys already have Taseer's son in your custody. Come straight to the point and offer his release as a price for killing. We should get ready to see a self confessed cold blooded killer as a national leader. He is hero already. We should have sensed it well before when we taught our children Ilmuddin as hero. Want to cry out loud
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Mar 11, 2015 08:16am
Shameful thought process of these religious flag bearers (so called).
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Mar 11, 2015 08:18am
Unbelievable! Only in today's Pakistan.
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Mar 11, 2015 08:18am
Taseel family should not accept this offer. The killer must be punished.
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Mar 11, 2015 08:21am
Their other trump card is of course late Salman Taseer son who is still being hostage. The deal will be that whatever blood money is offered can then be recovered as ransom for release of the son.
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Mar 11, 2015 08:21am
All these religious parties should be banned ! They want to protect a cold blooded murderer!
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Mar 11, 2015 08:29am
Raymond Davis, Shahrukh Jatoi and now Mumtaz Qadri. What a mockery of religion! !!
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Mar 11, 2015 08:32am
Tomorrow I kill some one, and get off the hook by paying blood money. What a wonderful law.
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Mar 11, 2015 08:35am
No money will bring back the Governor. Time to get rid of this law.
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Mar 11, 2015 08:36am
US is giving you billions of dollars, kindly treat it as blood money.
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Mar 11, 2015 08:39am
It is a blood money no doubt. The money that you have accumulated through killing people, making a business enterprise out of relgion and sucking people's blood.
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Mar 11, 2015 08:39am
Yet this could still be a chance to financially cripple these maniacs. Let them set the blood money at Rs. 80 crores (the late governor was worth at least that much if not more) and give them a month to produce the funds. Keep a close eye on how these funds are raised. This in exchange for turning down the death sentence into life imprisonment.
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Mar 11, 2015 08:43am
It's plain murder and terrorism. We should ban clerics in Pakistan, they are bringing bad name to the religion and the country. Let's all join hands to condemn the murderers
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Mar 11, 2015 08:46am
So they are admitting that he is a killer and also admitting that Raymond Davis exploited Islam. So, why do they want to do the same?
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Mar 11, 2015 08:53am
" They also offered to pay blood money to the deceased governor’s family for the acquittal of the self-confessed killer." so he goes on killing spree and becomes a mullah.... kaya baney gaa is qaum ka...kuch nahin...
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Mar 11, 2015 08:58am
This all depends on Mr. Taseer's family agreeing to pardon for bloodmoney. I'm afraid the religious parties will threaten them to accept the deal.
How fair is this system? Not much if a convict is poor or minority. Sorry state of justice.
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Mar 11, 2015 09:01am
All Muslims have to prove that religion or sects are not for violence or destruction of the humanity, they have been sent to existing world for peace. Basic message of Islam is renounce murder, theft and all kind of corruption. Who will admit that his religion or sect is to spread violence on this earth. Which religion and sect is teaching terrorism???
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Mar 11, 2015 09:04am
that is like rubbing salt on wounds.
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Mar 11, 2015 09:09am
All those offering blood money are in turn legitimizing Qadri's actions. Unfortunately law of the land does not deem this as an offense.
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Mar 11, 2015 09:11am
If blood money is accepted for Salman Taseer (May his soul rest in peace), it will be the end of Pakistan as a modern nation. Evil has to be uprooted at any cost
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Mar 11, 2015 09:13am
Religious parties the bane of Pakistan.
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Mar 11, 2015 09:18am
Can any AUTHENTIC Islamic Scholar ( not a mulla or Imam ) make this case justified for blood money. This will be greatly appreciated by millions.
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Mar 11, 2015 09:19am
Were these the same folks who hated it when Raymond gave the blood money and left Pakistan.
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Mar 11, 2015 09:23am
Wow Pakistan. Way to go !
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Mar 11, 2015 09:24am
Ok. So all crimes are acceptable as long as you can pay for it. Great and one of it's kind ideology !!
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Mar 11, 2015 09:25am
All the criminals wanting to take that one criminal out of the jail
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Mar 11, 2015 09:27am
To be Rational is sin in Pakistan.
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Mar 11, 2015 09:32am
So according to the Bloodmoney law (Qisas), if the victim's family does NOT accept the bloodmoney, the perpetrator has to then be executed in the same manner as he committed the original crime. Will these religious honor the second provision of this Sharia Law? BTW, these religious parties should read history and realize that Rasul-Allah (PBUH) always stood for equal treatment of everyone by the law and never promoted favoritism and nepotism which these guys are NOT grasping the concept of.
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Mar 11, 2015 09:32am
Right here in the heading of the story we have all that is wrong in 21st century Pakistan. Khoonbaha (blood money) being offered by "religious" parties? This is one of so many medieval customs that have to be expurgated from the mindset for the true sanctity of human life to be recognised and valued. And what of the not-so-veiled threat from the JUP's Shabbir Abu Talib: "The government is responsible for creating challenges which ultimately increase its own difficulties. Parties representing the Ahle Sunnat school of thought do not want to trigger any chaos or violence ....." BUT!
And any reference to the Davis case is a complete red herring because the circumstances and manner in which the two cases unfolded couldn't be more dissimilar and would be seen as such in any unbiased, unreligious court outside Pakistan. Ba humbug!
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Mar 11, 2015 09:32am
The law enforcement agencies should carry on with their impartial crack down. Those who treat a killer as their hero should be ashamed of their conduct. Islam does not permit individuals to take law into their own hands for the simple reason that such a thing would create chaos and mayhem in the society. I do not understand how this simple logic escapes those who are elevating Qadri to a hero status. It is pathetic indeed.
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Mar 11, 2015 09:42am
Only in Pakistan!
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Mar 11, 2015 09:51am
Just one question... DID HE KILL Mr. Taseer by taking law in his own hands? YES OR NO?
he could have moved the court against him.. taking law in own hands simply just not justify the act.. PERIOD!
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Mar 11, 2015 09:51am
Yes, blood money is all you need once you lose your father, brother and son. Yes, religious parties, you're a black spot on my religion! Don't even call yourself religious!
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Mar 11, 2015 09:52am
This beast will be set free in the name of khoonbaha. that why punishment under anti terror law was quashed..now a drama will be staged in the name of khoonbaha and then end of story.
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Mar 11, 2015 09:56am
My advice to the Taseer family: Ask for release of your son from Taliban as Khoonbaha because these religious parties definitely know and have influence over Shahbaz Taseer's kidnappers. Once you have him, leave the country. Your courage and liberalism is not going to change an inch of this country as long as the apologists are sitting in the government.
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Mar 11, 2015 10:08am
Hey, at least they're now saying that they are democratic and will not challenge the writ of the state. Sounds like they're more scared to protest than in the past.
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Mar 11, 2015 10:14am
i predicted that long time a go.... and that is what going to happened... Pakistan has become so predictable..... misuse of the laws and misuse of the religion....
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Mar 11, 2015 10:16am
For correct perspective on Qadri case please listen to Nauman Ali Khan about blasphemy on the Web.
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Mar 11, 2015 10:18am
It is nothing more than misuse of Islamic principles (Khoonbaha) by 'Ulema'.
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Mar 11, 2015 10:24am
This new Judgement has opened this option for qadri. Taliban will now trade Salman taseers son with qadri's release. Very poor judgement by our judiciary this time. Shame on them.
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Mar 11, 2015 10:27am
Ask them to pay $1 billion + free his son. Move to USA after receiving this money. This hate infested country is not worth living anymore.
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Mar 11, 2015 10:27am
How dare they make such an offer? Have they no shame? I hope mr taseer's family never accept. I wish I could ban religious parties altogether. Thats so much better than the miscellaneous other bans we are living with.
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Mar 11, 2015 10:31am
Mr. Qadri has been convicted of an offense under the penal code of Pakistan. He should be punished per the law. I sincerely hope that Mr. Taseer's family completely rejects the offer of Qasis.
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Mar 11, 2015 10:31am
Shahbaz Taseer who is still missing will be used as bargaining chip.
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Mar 11, 2015 10:47am
Is there any limit to nonsense? How much more insane do we need to be, before we meet the logical end? This is utterly shameless!
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Mar 11, 2015 10:49am
With the good will of high judiciary,he might just walk free.
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Mar 11, 2015 10:51am
The Government should keep a deep eye on these people who spreading religious unrest in the country.
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Mar 11, 2015 11:14am
What kind of religion do these Islamic parties believe in. A man, who had not been charged or convicted by any court of law was murdered in cold blood by his own guard. Qadri needs to be punished on two counts. Firstly, his treacherous act of disloyalty against his own charge, and the brutal act of murder. If these religious leaders understood the real spirit of Islam, they would have been demanding for an early execution of the murderer , in order to set an example of justice. The comparison with the Raymond Davis case is not relevant at all. Mumtaz Qadri is not a hero, but a murderer, period!
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Mar 11, 2015 11:17am
is that it?? and he goes free ?? wow!!
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Mar 11, 2015 11:30am
How is state of #Pakistan going to survive if everyone is going to offer Blood Money to the murdered person family.. If the people of Pakistan wants to create a society of Murderers than who will be left alive will be the question for all Muslims and people of other religion.
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Mar 11, 2015 11:33am
All such religious parties should be banned forever as only criminals will support a criminal like corrupt political parties support the corrupt ones.
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Mar 11, 2015 11:35am
Something is better than Nothing. Take it.
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Mar 11, 2015 11:39am
First of all Mumtaz Qadri show regret / remorse public for his crime and all those so-called religious parties who are supporting him should publicly denounced his act as heinous crime then give offer to Mr. Taseer family otherwise it would be another crime to get the killer out through Coercive methods
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Mar 11, 2015 11:52am
What a disgrace and injustice to a human life. Kill an innocent person and then offer money to buy your right to live against the death sentence.
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Mar 11, 2015 11:54am
What religion these religious parties belong to? As long as you have money, you can do whatever and pay your way out of it. Punishment is only for poor who can not buy their way out. Shame, Shame, Shame!!!
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Mar 11, 2015 12:02pm
@Israr very wise advise . no point in delaying and agravating situation. No deal can bring back the dead to life. Rather settle for release of kidnapped son and move to some safe and civilised country. May Allah be merciful on our country!
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Mar 11, 2015 12:07pm
@Israr I feel that your advice to the Taseer family is very sound and they should seriously consider the option. And by the way, which political party of Pakistan is not amongst the apologists. Even IK, the biggest champion of justice has an apologetic stance towards the religious extremists including the Taliban.
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Mar 11, 2015 12:10pm
These so-called Mullahs should be ashamed of themselves they are protecting a psychopath killer who killed deliberately an innocent person and still not ashamed of his act
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Mar 11, 2015 12:18pm
Pro-west leaders want a sectarian division in this country this is why they raise blasphemy issues in this country.
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Mar 11, 2015 12:22pm
@Hashim Malik These....these religious parties to follow teachings of our prophet (s.a.w.w.) ?? Wishful thinking only...to say the least about them. The ISIS / Daesh claim to be religious one and its head (terrorist) Abu Bakar Baghdadi has announced himself to be a caliph but the whole world has seen how religious they are . They do not even deserve to be called humans let alone religious.
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Mar 11, 2015 12:45pm
IHC decision to reverse terrorism charge seems to be under threat or favor, to take the issue for negotiation to settle at blood money
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Mar 11, 2015 01:50pm
Media should not give them coverage .... this is insane.... when they will not recieve any coverage .... they will not influence or create pressure.... it is the media who is helping them indirectly
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Mar 11, 2015 02:04pm
The court should reject the compromise to save the culprit. Beside this how Taseer family members could accept the blood money.
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Mar 11, 2015 02:08pm
ISIS ideology seeping into Pakistan, albeit in slow motion.
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Mar 11, 2015 02:20pm
I never knew it was so easy to get away after killing someone. Just have enough money in pocket. This is called justice.
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Mar 11, 2015 03:04pm
These are not religious parties or people these are hardcore criminal in wearing a masks of Muslims. Political or religious parties fighting to have released these born criminal when there is undeniable evidence are not representative of religion or public. Shame on us calling them political or religious parties and for listen them on TV. Shame on us Shame on us shame on us.
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Mar 11, 2015 03:44pm
Religious parties think everything and everyone in Pakistan is For Sale.
Please stop otherwise people start to hate religion ....
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Mar 11, 2015 06:43pm
@zak when in India RSS, VHP, SP are dictating hate policies to the indian government and the biggest mass murderer is the PM, these pakistani religious parties are nothing and have no influence on our government. Just ignore them.
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