Pakistan police book Qadri's 7,000 supporters for rioting

KARACHI: Over 7,000 supporters of Mumtaz Qadri have been booked by the police for rioting in Pakistan's biggest city following the execution of the former police commando, hanged for killing Punjab's governor Salman Taseer over his opposition to the blasphemy laws.

Around 7,000 protesters had blocked the busy M A Jinnah Road, and used abusive language against state institutions during their rally here in the city after Qadri was hanged on Monday.

Dawn reported the FIR against the protesters was filed in the Soldier Bazaar police station on behalf of the state.

The protesters have been booked under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and Loudspeakers Act, Soldier Bazaar SHO Irshad Soomro said.

Qadri, deputed on the security of Taseer, had killed the governor at a market close to the latter's house in 2011 in Islamabad for allegedly criticising the controversial blasphemy laws and was convicted the same year.

Taseer, who died aged 66, had termed the blasphemy regulations, introduced by Pakistan's military ruler Zia-ul-Haq in 1980s, as "black laws" drawing the ire of extremists.

Qadri was hanged on Monday morning at a Rawalpindi jail after his appeal against the conviction was rejected by the Supreme Court.

Around 50,000 supporters of Qadri, mostly from Sunni Tehreek group had attended his funeral in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, while thousands of people took out processions in favour of the murderer in other cities as well.