Mumtaz Qadri anniversary held despite government strict ban
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Mumtaz Qadri shrine celebrations kicked off in Twin cities despite the complete ban declared by the government.
Thousands of religious hardliners in Pakistan defied a ban on demonstrations to rally on Wednesday in support of a man executed for murdering a popular governor over his call to reform the country's blasphemy laws.
Mumtaz Qadri was executed on February 29 last year for killing Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab.
Qadri had been assigned as one of Taseer's bodyguards after the governor enraged the religious right by calling for reform to the country's blasphemy laws in support of a Christian woman who had been sentenced to death.
After his arrest, Qadri became a hero to many in hardline factions for his action, seen as defending Islam.
Despite the increased security on Wednesday, with included police shutting down entire roads, people thronged to a shrine glorifying Qadri on the outskirts of capital, Islamabad.
