The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan’s decision on Wednesday to maintain the conviction of Mumtaz Qadri by an Anti-Terrorism Court is being hailed as a landmark judgement. Qadri, who had filed an appeal for a reduction in his sentence, was earlier convicted for the assassination of Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer. Qadri killed a man he was duty-bound to protect, but shamelessly maintains he did the right thing.

Pakistani police guard Mumtaz Qadri (right) in a police van after he assassinated Governor Salman Taseer on January 4, 2011. Qadri killed a man he was duty-bound to protect, but shamelessly maintains he did the right thing. Pic/AFP