Prosecutor in Taseer murder case quits amid security concerns

Islamabad, Feb 4 (PTI) Saiful Malook, the Pakistaniprosecutor who was pursuing the case against the police guardwho assassinated former Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer, haswithdrawn from the case, citing security concerns, a mediareport said today.

Mumtaz Qadri shot dead Taseer on January 4 in theheart of the capital because he was angered by the Governor''scampaign to free a Christian woman sentenced to death underthe draconian blasphemy law.

Malook pulled out from the case saying the governmenthad failed to fulfill the promise to provide him with fullsecurity, the Express Tribune reported.

Malook was quoted as saying in the report that thegovernment had promised to provide him with security while hewas following the case, but has not fulfilled the promise sofar.

The lawyer also claimed that the case challan wasincomplete as the police have not yet determined if theassassin was instigated by clerics to murder Taseer. He saidthe challan will remain incomplete until the case against theclerics is decided.

On February 1, a Pakistani court deferred theindictment of Qadri as the prosecution could not provide somedocuments to defence lawyers.

Hardline Pakistani Islamist parties have rallied insupport of Qadri. Liberals and civil society activists wereoutraged when Qadri was showered with rose petals at theearlier court hearings. PTI