“Although death sentence can be handed down to those who committed blasphemy by a court of law after due procedure, nobody can be encouraged to kill others in violation of laws.” - Photo by AP

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court dismissed on Thursday a petition seeking annulment of the murder case against Malik Mumtaz Qadri, the self-confessed assassin of Punjab governor Salman Taseer, saying nobody could be allowed to violate the law.

Justice Mohammad Anwar Khan Kasi observed that respect for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was important for every Muslim, but no citizen could be allowed to take law into his hands.

“Although death sentence can be handed down to those who committed blasphemy by a court of law after due procedure, nobody can be encouraged to kill others in violation of laws.”

Making the Kohsar police SHO as respondent, the petition, filed by Advocate Zafar Awan from Chakwal, argued that Mumtaz Qadri had committed no offence as the punishment for blasphemy was death. Citing examples from history, the petitioner tried to establish that a blasphemer could be killed and the killer could not be tried by any court of law.

The lawyer said that Salman Taseer had hurt the emotions of Muslims when he met a Christian woman convicted for blasphemy in Sheikhupura district jail and called the blasphemy law a black law.

He said the governor had stated that he met Asia on humanitarian grounds and vowed to help her. He never disowned these statements. Mr Taseer should have observed restraint because he was holding a public office.

Advocate Zafar requested the court to quash the FIR against Qadri and direct the trial court to drop the case against him.