RAWALPINDI, March 26: Mumtaz Qadri, alleged killer of Governor Punjab Salman Taseer had requested the junior clerk of the elite force to include him in the escort of the slain governor. Umer Farooq, junior clerk (Naib Mohrar) of the elite force of the Rawalpindi police appearing as prosecution witness in the Salman Taseer’s murder case contended before the trial court on Saturday that Mumtaz Qadri made a verbal request to him that he should be included in the elite force team posted for the security duty of the governor.

He said that he included Mumtaz Qadri in the escort primarily owing to the shortage of elite force personnel in the Police lines that day.

Special Judge ATC-II Raja Ikhlaq Hussain put off the hearing in Salman Taseer murder case till April 1 after recording statement of Mumtaz Qadri in Adial jail on Saturday.

A number of Dawat-i-Islami and Sunni Tehrik activists gathered outside the jail and chanted slogans in favour of Mumtaz Qadri.

Two police officers of Kohsar police related to the investigation of the case were also present but their statements could not be recorded and they would again appear in the court on the next hearing. —Our Reporter