City
Epaper

After lawyers, Peshawar Police squad pose for selfie with murderer of blasphemy accused

By ANI | Updated: August 5, 2020 15:09 IST

An image of the Peshawar Police, Elite Force squad posing for a group selfie with Faisal also known as Khalid, who last week killed American citizen Tahir Ahmad Naseem inside Pakistan's courtroom has gone viral on social media.

Open in App

An image of the Peshawar Police, Elite Force squad posing for a group selfie with Faisal also known as Khalid, who last week killed American citizen Tahir Ahmad Naseem inside Pakistan's courtroom has gone viral on social media.

Taking to Twitter, Human rights activist Gulalai Ismail wrote, "After lawyers taking selfies with the murderer of Tahir Ahmed Naseem, Peshawar police (Elite Force) also joined the bandwagon of making a celebrity out of a criminal involved in a first-degree murder over alleged blasphemy."

"Many people are of the opinion that the murderer Faisal (Khalid) was either handed over the gun by police in courtroom or police helped him take gun inside the court. It's disappointing to see intolerance and violent religious extremism seeped into each and every institution of Pakistan," Ismail wrote.

Ismail hopes that the court is able to do an independent investigation of the murder and the circumstances, in which Tahir Naseem was killed.

"It was no doubt a pre-mediated murder," she added.

Tahir Ahmad Naseem, from the minority Ahmadi community, was shot dead in a courtroom in Peshawar on July 30. He was on trial for blasphemy.

The young assailant, identified as Khalid Khan who managed to get into the court amid tight security was arrested later.

Naseem was arrested two years ago on blasphemy charges.

Ahmadis, a four million-strong minority group in Pakistan, have faced death, threats, intimidation and a sustained hate campaign for decades.

Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law carries an automatic death penalty for anyone convicted of insulting God, Islam or other religious figures.

Many members of the minority communities in Pakistan -- the Ahmadis, Hindus, Christians and Sikhs were charged with blasphemy law.

( With inputs from ANI )

Tags: 2017 Peshawar police vehicle attackElite forceTahir ahmed naseempakistanPeshawarGulalai IsmailDhs punjab
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalImran Khan’s Sisters Stage Protest Outside Adiala Jail; Raise Alarm Over His Health, Security

InternationalImran Khan Facing “Mental Torture” in Jail, Claims Sister Uzma Khanum

NationalJammu Police Nab 19-Year-Old Reasi Youth Over Online Radicalisation, Suspected Links to Pakistan Handlers

InternationalImran Khan Dead? PTI Supporters and Former Pak PM's Sisters Reach Adiala Jail, Clash With Police

NationalArms Trafficking Racket Busted in Delhi: 10 Turkey and China-Made Pistols, 92 live Cartridges Seized; 4 Arrested

International Realted Stories

InternationalTrump orders National Guard withdrawal from Chicago, LA, Portland

International"Departure of Sheikh Hasina provided more space to religious hardliners": South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman

InternationalSouth Asia analyst Michael Kugelman calls Khaleda Zia 'political titan' of Bangladesh

International"Need to treat this claim with scepticism": South Asia analyst after China claims role in mediating India-Pak conflict

International'Her vision and legacy will endure': PM Modi writes to Tarique Rahman, condoles death of former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia