Taseer killer confesses, says acted on his own

ISLAMABAD: Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, the assassin of Pakistan’s Punjab governor Salman Taseer, formally confessed before an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi on Monday that he acted alone in gunning down the liberal politician last week in Islamabad.
Qadri killed Taseer in a posh market in the heart of Pakistan capital on January 4 and surrendered immediately after shooting Taseer.Qadri said he was angered by governor’s criticism of the blasphemy law. In a written statement in the court, Qadri admitted he had committed the murder out of his own will and denied being influenced by any political or religious group.
“I had not planned or discussed the assassination with anyone. I had been planning it for more than three days when I was deployed for the security of the governor,’’ he said. The judge remanded him in judicial custody for a fortnight and sent him to Adiala Jail.
According to police sources, Qadri was brought to the court a day earlier under heavy security to prevent his supporters from showing up. Senior police official Haroon Joya said the police presented Qadri in court a day before his scheduled appearance because the police had completed its investigation. “We did not deceive the defence. We’ve presented him in the court according to law,’’ he said.
This infuriated the defence lawyers, saying they were not invited. “This was to avoid arguments from defence. None of our lawyers could attend the court because we didn’t know about the proceedings,’’ said defence lawyer Malik Waheed Anjum. About 300 lawyers have come forward to fight his case.
At his first court appearance, Qadri had been warmly welcomed by the zealots, including dozens of lawyers, who showered rose petals and flowers on him.