Pakistan Hangs Killer Of Reformist Governor Taseer

Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, a bodyguard who killed Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, is photographed after being detained at the site of Taseer's shooting in Islamabad on January 4, 2011.

The government of Pakistan has executed a man convicted of murdering a provincial governor in 2011 after the official called for reform of the country's strict blasphemy laws.

Mumtaz Qadri was hanged on February 29 in Rawalpindi.

Qadri, who was considered a hero by many Islamists, was a former bodyguard to Punjab Governor Salman Taseer.

He confessed to killing Taseer in response to his calls to reform strict blasphemy laws that carry a death sentence for insulting Islam.

Qadri shot Taseer 28 times at a market in Islamabad in broad daylight.

The judge who oversaw Qadri's trial was forced to flee the country after receiving death threats.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters