Salman Taseer killer's case should be decided as per Shariah law: JuD

Pakistan-based terror outfit JuD has asked the country's courts to decide the case of Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer's assassin in line with the 'Shariah' or Islamic law and "sentiments of Muslims".

Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader Maulana Amir Hamza, who is the convener of Tehrik-e-Hurmat-e-Rasool that has been opposing any move to amend the controversial blasphemy law, also hailed the clerics who refused to lead the funeral prayer of Taseer.

Taseer, the governor of Pakistan's most populous province of Punjab and senior PPP leader, was gunned down by his extremist bodyguard Mumtaz Qadri at a posh market in the heart of Islamabad on Tuesday for opposing the blasphemy law.

Hamza asked courts to decide the case of Qadri in accordance with the Islamic law and the "sentiments of Muslims" of the country.

"The courts must respect our sentiments," he said in a statement.

The clerics, who refused to lead Taseer's funeral prayer on Wednesday, had proved that they had great respect for the Prophet Mohammad, Hamza said. "God will reward you (clerics) for your brave act," he said.

After an influential grouping of scholars and clerics of the Barelvi school of thought asked Muslims not to offer or lead the funeral prayer for Taseer, the clerics of three mosques in Lahore, including the one at the governor's house, refused to lead the 'namaz-e-janaza'.

The prayer was finally led by a member of the PPP's clerics' wing.

Hamza also criticised the US and European countries for condemning the murder of Taseer.

The JuD leader also warned PPP lawmaker Sherry Rehman to immediately withdraw a private bill submitted to Parliament to amend the blasphemy law.

He made it clear that "no one can think of changing the blasphemy law".

Blaming Taseer for his death, Hamza questioned why the Governor had sought clemency from President Asif Ali Zardari for Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for allegedly insulting Prophet Mohammed.

"We want to tell everyone that there can be no debate on the blasphemy law," said Hamza of JuD, which is blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks.