RAWA LPINDI - Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri confessed before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) here on Saturday that he while following the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah shot dead former Governor Punjab Salman Taseer outside a restaurant in Islamabad for his blasphemous statements. ATC No. 2 Judge Syed Pervez Ali Shah, while taking up the case at Adiala Jail, noted down the statement of Qadri, the assassin of former Governor Punjab Salman Taseer. In this statement, Qadri admitted before the judge that no body intimidated him to do so. The court later adjourned the hearing till September 24. Qadris father Malik Bashir Awan and brother Malik Dilpazir Awan were also present during the hearing of the case. Raja Shujah-ur-Rehman, lawyer of Qadri, told media persons outside Adiala Jail that his client had also submitted a written statement of 40 pages, referring to 11 Quranic verses, 28 quotes from Sunnah, four decisions of the the Righteous Caliphs and the views of Imam Hanfi, Imam Shafi, Imam Malik, Imam Hanbal, Imam Jafferi and several other eminent Muslims jurists and with reference to Islamic jurisprudence about blasphemy, with the ATC under Section 265-F (5) of the CrPC. In his statement, Shujah informed, Qadri has explained that under these references, Taseer had committed blasphemy and every person who commits blasphemy or supports a blasphemer or doubts that the punishment of blasphemer is unjustified or practically tries to abolish sentence is liable to death. Taseer was a Murtid (defiant) for marrying a Sikh woman, Qadri claimed in his statement. The defence lawyer stated that prosecution raised no objection over the statement of Qadri, therefore the court validly admitted this statement and made it a part of court record. Responding to a query, Shujah said that personal conduct of a national leader, who desired to lead the people, was public property and every citizen of Pakistan had a right to question every leaders conduct. This right has also been exercised by Qadri in this trial, he added. Meanwhile, the law enforcement agencies made strict security arrangements inside and outside of Adiala Jail during the proceeding of the case. Qadri confesses killing Taseer