PESHAWAR: Jamaat-i-Islami leader Prof Mohammad Ibrahim Khan has asked the president and the prime minister to revoke death penalty of Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, the murderer of the former Punjab governor Salman Taseer, and set him free ‘honourably’.

“President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should show wisdom in the case of Qadri. They should not only revoke his death penalty but also set him free from the jail honourably,” a statement issued here on Friday quoted the former senator as saying.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has upheld the death sentence of Qadri. “If the president and prime minister don’t show wisdom then it can trigger crisis across the country,” he cautioned.

The JI leader said blasphemy should not be associated with an individual but this was an issue of the entire Muslim Ummah. He urged ulema to highlight the issue of death penalty of Qadri in their sermons in mosques.

Justifying action of Qadri the JI leader said late governor Taseer had visited the jail where he met Asia Bibi who was detained in blasphemy case. He said Mr Taseer not only met Asia Bibi but also expressed sympathies with her and started efforts for her release.

Prof Ibrahim raised reservations over Mumtaz Qadri case and said instead of blasphemy law he was treated under the anti-terrorism law. He said law in Taseer case was ‘misused’.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2016