Testimony of witnesses recorded in Taseer killing case

Islamabad, Feb 26 (PTI) A Pakistani anti-terrorismcourt conducting the trial of the police guard whoassassinated Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer today recorded thetestimony of four witnesses, including a doctor and threepolicemen.

Judge Raja Ikhlaq Hussain conducted proceedingswithin the heavily guarded Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi forsecurity reasons and recorded the statements of MuhammadRashid, the doctor who conducted Taseer''s autopsy, AssistantSub-Inspectors Sardar Hussain and Muhammad Iftikhar andConstable Abdul Rahim.

After recording the testimony of the witnesses, thejudge adjourned the matter till March 5.

Special Public Prosecutor Saif-ul-Malook was presentduring the hearing.

Police guard Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri was chargedwith terrorism and murder after he gunned down Taseer atKohsar Market in Islamabad on January 4.

Qadri told investigators he was angered by Taseer''sopposition to the blasphemy law and his support for Asia Bibi,a Christian woman sentenced to death last year for allegedlyinsulting the Prophet Mohammed.

The court will record the statements of otherwitnesses during the next hearing.