Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, an Elite Force official hailed a burst of bullets from close range on Taseer when he was stepping out of his car in Kohsar Market. The injured Taseer was rushed to Federal Government Services Hospital (Polyclinic), but could not survive. The assassination of 56 years old Salmaan Taseer is most high-profile murder since Benazir Bhutto's assassination.
Eyewitnesses told Business Recorder that Taseer died on the spot due to indiscriminate firing by his own guard. "The Governor fell down and the man who fired at him threw down his gun and raised both hands, saying that he killed a person who committed blasphemy," Saifur Rehman an eyewitness, told this scribe.
They said that half of the face of the deceased was damaged by firing as bullets were sprayed all over his body. Senior PPP leaders, federal ministers and large number of PPP activists rushed to Polyclinic where deceased Governor's body was being examined during external autopsy. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif ended his press conference and also reached Polyclinic.
Among top government functionaries who visited Polyclinic included federal ministers Qamar Zaman Kaira, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Babar Awan, Ahmed Mukhtar, Naveed Qamar, Manzoor Wattoo, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Ayatullah Durrani, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi, Special Advisor to President Farah Naz Ispahani, PPP leaders Aftab Shaban Mirani and Nabeel Gabol.
Charged PPP activists raised slogans against Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif and Rana Sanaullah. Kohsar is a small market at a short distance from Super Market of F-6 Markaz and is famous for shopping center for foreigners in Islamabad. The crime scene was covered with bullet cases and soaked with the blood of the deceased governor.
Other guards accompanying the governor overpowered Mumtaz and took him to some unknown place, while other five guards belonging to Elite Force were arrested by Islamabad Police. The Police high ups reached the scene and the area was cordoned of by contingents of Islamabad Police, Anti Terrorist Squad, Rangers and Frontier Constabulary. The forensic experts collected samples.
Amir Ahmed Ali, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad confirming the death of Governor Punjab said that his external autopsy was conducted in Polyclinic after completing all medico legal requirements.
A team of doctors led by Dr Muhammad Arshad, senior surgeon Polyclinic and Dr I U Baig, who held initial (external) post-mortem of the deceased in Polyclinic told this scribe that 26 bullet holes were witnessed on the body while 22 bullets were ejected. After external autopsy, which was described by doctors as 40 per cent autopsy the body of deceased governor was shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) where internal autopsy was conducted.
The detailed medico-legal report compiled by the team of doctors which held internal autopsy of Taseer stated that the Punjab Governor received at least 27 gun shots. According to Dr Iftikhar Nadir, who led the medical team, at least 26 bullet wounds were found on Taseer's body. The post-mortem report said his heart was unhurt. Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, an Elite Force official who was on security duty of Salmaan Taseer said that he killed the Governor as he (Salman Taseer) has declared the blasphemy law as a black law. He said he has no regret... he is happy that he killed a person who was indulged in blasphemy of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Islamabad Police sources said that Qadri, a 26-year old Elite Force official has confessed that he opened fire on the governor because of his support to Asia Bibi. Asia Bibi, a woman from minority Christian community was convicted by a lower court for blasphemy and Salmaan Taseer had publicly supported the woman. Asia Bibi requested President Asif Ali Zardari to pardon her. He had termed anti-blasphemy law as black law.
Taseer, a Chartered Accountant, served as minister for industry and production during the Musharraf regime in later stage and was then elevated as Governor of Punjab Province and later PPP government allowed him to continue as Governor of Punjab where opposition in National Assembly is governing the province. After autopsy, the body was taken to airport to be flown to Lahore, where his funeral prayers will be offered at 1.00 am tomorrow at Governor House.