The Islamabad High Court ((IHC) on Tuesday said that it is ready to hear the Salmaan Taseer murder case on a regular basis. A two-member bench comprising Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi and Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui heard the appeal plea filed by Mumtaz Qadri, the killer of the then governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer, against his conviction by a local anti-terrorism court.
Appearing before the bench Khawaja Muhammad Sharif, a former chief justice of Lahore high Court (LHC), who is representing Mumtaz Qadri, said neither anybody from the complainant's side nor federal government has appeared in the court. Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, a member of the bench, remarked that this impression should be dispelled that nobody is ready to appear from prosecutor's side due to one reason or the other. He said the government blames the court for delay in disposing of cases which is not appropriate, adding the court is ready to hear the murder case of Salmaan Taseer on a regular basis.
Appearing before the bench, government prosecutors, Jehangir Jadoon and the advocate general ICT Mian Rauf sought two weeks but the bench allowed only one week and adjourned the hearing for one week. A large number of supporters of Mumtaz Qadri were also present outside IHC but police did not allow any of them to enter the premises of the court. Before fixing the case for hearing the IHC had written to Islamabad Capital Administration (ICT) to ensure foolproof security to the court and ban the entry of unwanted people to the court. Qadri appeared in court where waiting lawyers threw handfuls of rose petals over him and others in the crowd slapped his back and kissed his cheek as he was led in and out amid heavy security.
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