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Pakistan Upholds Death Sentence For Punjab Governor's Killer


Pakistan's Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence for the killer of a politician who sought to reform blasphemy laws.

The Islamabad High Court had previously dismissed an appeal against the death sentence by Qadri, who shot dead Punjab Governor Salman Taseer in Islamabad in 2011, but had canceled his terrorism conviction.

Qadri admitted shooting Taseer, saying he objected to the politician's calls to reform Pakistan's strict blasphemy laws, which can also carry the death penalty.

Many view Qadri as a hero and some lawyers showered him with rose petals when he arrived in court days after the killing.

The judge who first convicted him was forced to flee the country after death threats.

The court also ruled on October 7 to restore a terrorism conviction on former police commando Mumtaz Qadri that had been removed by a lower court in March.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP

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