Pakistan

Day after historic SC ruling, #IamMumtazQadri trends in Pakistan

Pakistanis use hashtag to tweet in support and against the Supreme Court's decision to uphold Qadri's death penalty

Web Desk October 08, 2015

Mumtaz Qadri PHOTO: AFP

The Supreme Court's decision to uphold the death sentence of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer’s killer, Mumtaz Qadri, has reignited a debate on one of the most controversial topics in Pakistan -- blasphemy.

During the hearing, the country’s top court questioned whether individuals had the right to punish ‘blasphemers’ and also observed that criticising the blasphemy law did not amount to blasphemy.

Unsurprisingly, the hashtag #IamMumtazQadri started trending in Pakistan a day after the ruling. Surprisingly, the Supreme Court's ruling seems to have shifted opinion and sparked a larger debate over the controversial issue.

Read: SC upholds death sentence for Salmaan Taseer's killer

Many Pakistanis used the hashtag to tweet in support of the Supreme Court's decision to uphold Qadri's death penalty.

I suggest our state better disband regulators like #PTA if they can block #youtube but cannot take notice of trends like #IamMumtazQadri
— Farrukh K. Pitafi (@FarrukhKPitafi) October 8, 2015

The one who kills others in the name of mercy for whole mankind (PBUH) is the biggest blasphemer. Shame on those trending #IamMumtazQadri
— Bilal Mahmood (@bilalmahmooduk) October 8, 2015

" #IamMumtazQadri "? Oh really are you? There's a pretty cushy death sentence waiting for you.
— Kala Kawa (@kaalakawaa) October 8, 2015

#IamMumtazQadri n m going to b hanged soon inshaAllah#HangMumtazQadri
— مطمئنّه سيّد (@mutmainna_syed) October 8, 2015

https://twitter.com/sheenaabidashah/status/652044476228214784

#IamMumtazQadri ? Seriously?

If he can kill for Prophet Muhammad PBUH. Why can't he die for him? Why is he pleading for mercy? #Hypocrisy
— Omair (@Omairracle) October 8, 2015

If people are trending #IamMumtazQadri it means you simply don't understand Islam. #Blindfoldfollowers
— F/1Q (@warraichtayyara) October 8, 2015

Mumtaz Qadri is not a representative of ISLAM . He is a mislead person and he is a criminal .
THEN how it is possible that #IamMumtazQadri
— Khuram Shehzad (@KhuramSHashmi) October 8, 2015

https://twitter.com/anthonypermal/status/652042039316606976

https://twitter.com/anthonypermal/status/652041866838474752

If you say #IamMumtazQadri ,u are a murderer who tarnished the image of Islam,failed the teachings of Allah,what Mohammad (SAW) preached.
— Ayesha (@Ayeshaspeaksnow) October 8, 2015

The one who kills others in the name of mercy for whole mankind (PBUH) is the biggest blasphemer. Shame on those trending #IamMumtazQadri
— Bilal Mahmood (@bilalmahmooduk) October 8, 2015

Read: SC questions whether individuals have authority to punish blasphemers

However, there were many many who were still showering Qadri with metaphorical rose petals on Twitter despite the Supreme Court's historic decision.

#GreenForWhite we respect every #Minorities unless they intervene in our #Religion if they do intervene then #IamMumtazQadri
— Anjum Shehzad Awan (@anjumshezi) October 8, 2015

https://twitter.com/just_waqas123/status/652066053321818112

#IamMumtazQadri
I am happy to be call #IamMumtazQadri
— Saleem Awaan (@saleemraza26) October 8, 2015

https://twitter.com/momhaq/status/652010663955562496

https://twitter.com/momhaq/status/652009734787215360

https://twitter.com/syedmaqadir68/status/651987084807413760

#IamMumtazQadri
Why honorable laywers, advocate take case of #MumtazQadri ?
Because he was Right
— muhammad Naeem (@rafaynomi147) October 7, 2015

https://twitter.com/Ayesha__Baloch/status/651859712204476416

On the other hand, some were simply dumbfounded that the hashtag was trending.

when things like '#IamMumtazQadri' trend on twitter, you wonder how long will it take for you to reach Mars.
— Sidra Rizvi (@Sidra_Rizvi) October 8, 2015

https://twitter.com/heyitsmeshafaq/status/652054708358615040

#IamMumtazQadri this is trending.. seriously shame on us.
— Bushra Joyo (@filmyjoyo) October 8, 2015

Qadri shot dead the former Punjab governor outside a cafe after lunch in Islamabad in January 2011 because he objected to Taseer’s calls to reform the blasphemy law.

COMMENTS (18)

Abdullah | 8 years ago | Reply @Naveed Iqbal: People have lost their EMAN

Naveed Iqbal | 8 years ago | Reply A clear sign that people will never be afraid of killing someone. If mumtaz qadri is escaped, people will get a license to kill other people, it clearly shows people have no respect for law and can kill anyone. This time people are oppressing the law and legal action, it must never happen and mumtaz qadri must get punished for what he has done and what he has caused in the society, if he is not punished, the consequences are already in debate. ‪#‎IamsalmanTaseer‬

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply @ajeet: Don't have the right to dictate when you have extremists in your government... yes I am taking about shiv sena... RS.

fact is fact | 8 years ago | Reply Shame and irony of a nation whi still thinks the other way around as always #IamNotMumtazQadri please

Aaliya Briggs | 8 years ago | Reply If you really thought you were in the right when you killed Salmaan Taseer, then you shouldn't be afraid to die for the "cause". Why the fear, and the plea bargaining then Mr. Qadri? Afraid of facing Allah after killing someone He gave life to? What a hypocrite you are.

Disgusting | 8 years ago | Reply Intelligence Agencies should mark all the supporters and then investigate each person because this is from where terrorism originates. If you don't hit at the root you will not end this menace. This is a God given oppertunity to trace and trap be it he or she especially the Lawyers involved.

Disgusting | 8 years ago | Reply @Raisani: You are not a Musalman.

Ali | 8 years ago | Reply And just when I thought Pakistan was becoming more humane, murderer sympathizers arose.

ajeet | 8 years ago | Reply The world is waking up to the double standards of Muslims. They want secularism when in minority, but sharia when in majority. Other religions won't keep quiet for long.

Paa Ji | 8 years ago | Reply Those who are texting 'Iammumtazqadri' are brainwashed people like this murderer and have brought this country to it's knees and still haven't learned any lessons. Pathetic they are!

syed & syed | 8 years ago | Reply I am Mumtaz Qadri because I am a murderer.

Hameed | 8 years ago | Reply This is the reality of Punjabistan.

xenia | 8 years ago | Reply @Raisani: We need to have leader like Stalin to deal with people like you.

Anon | 8 years ago | Reply @Raisani: To Raisani and others like him, I am a staunch Muslim and neither a supporter of secularism nor atheism but I can never and will never support someone like Mumtaz Qadri. He's a murderer and a criminal who took the law and interpretation of religion into his own hands. To top it off, he killed someone who couldn't even defend himself at that time and now he's too afraid to take a bullet himself. That also makes him a coward and a munafiq (hypocrite), not a ghazi. I bet people like you also support terrorists like AQ and the Taliban. After all, to them we're just apostates and blasphemers who need to be subdued or wiped out so that they can establish their own writ. So, going by you logic, what they've done so far, especially what they did in Peshawar, is correct as well? Ponder over that. Oh, and for you sake, I surely hope that you're not thinking that way.

Pakistaniat | 8 years ago | Reply Why is he appealing for mercy if he is so proud of what he has done?

Bewildered | 8 years ago | Reply @Raisani: "iammumtazqadri" Like Mumtaz Qadri, Modi also believes in killing the people he doesn't like. No wonder if you support Modi too.

Raisani | 8 years ago | Reply Ghazi Mumtaz Qadri is a hero and will remain hero forever. No matter how much propaganda these secular n atheists type people do, these wannabes can't impose their beliefs in the country which was only came into existence on the name of Islam. iammumtazqadri

abdullah k | 8 years ago | Reply Justice will only be served when he will be hanged till death.no mercy for such people.They ahould all b eliminayed for a better and prosperous pakistan.

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