<p>Taseer, a confidant of President Asif Ali Zardari, was gunned down in Islamabad on January 4 by Mumtaz Qadri, a member of his security detail. Qadri claimed that Taseer had committed blasphemy by opposing the controversial law.<br /><br />Justice Malik Mohammad Anwar Kansi of the Islamabad High Court rejected the petition filed by lawyer Zafar Awan after a preliminary hearing, saying that even if someone has blasphemed, no one is allowed to take the law into their own hands.<br /><br />The judge also rejected another petition seeking the cancellation of the First Information Report registered against Qadri.<br /><br />He said cases of blasphemy would be dealt with by courts in accordance with the law.<br />Awan had pointed out in his petition that Pakistani law states that capital punishment will be given to those who commit blasphemy.<br /><br />He had contended that Qadri's trial should not be continued under these circumstances.<br /><br />The next hearing in the trial of the assassin will be conducted behind closed doors at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on January 24.<br /><br />Pakistan's religious hardliners have praised Qadri and his actions. Qadri was showered with rose petals by lawyers and madrassa students during two court appearances.</p>
<p>Taseer, a confidant of President Asif Ali Zardari, was gunned down in Islamabad on January 4 by Mumtaz Qadri, a member of his security detail. Qadri claimed that Taseer had committed blasphemy by opposing the controversial law.<br /><br />Justice Malik Mohammad Anwar Kansi of the Islamabad High Court rejected the petition filed by lawyer Zafar Awan after a preliminary hearing, saying that even if someone has blasphemed, no one is allowed to take the law into their own hands.<br /><br />The judge also rejected another petition seeking the cancellation of the First Information Report registered against Qadri.<br /><br />He said cases of blasphemy would be dealt with by courts in accordance with the law.<br />Awan had pointed out in his petition that Pakistani law states that capital punishment will be given to those who commit blasphemy.<br /><br />He had contended that Qadri's trial should not be continued under these circumstances.<br /><br />The next hearing in the trial of the assassin will be conducted behind closed doors at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on January 24.<br /><br />Pakistan's religious hardliners have praised Qadri and his actions. Qadri was showered with rose petals by lawyers and madrassa students during two court appearances.</p>