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Pakistan Salman Taseer murder: Thousands mourn at Mumtaz Qadri funeral Pakistan Salman Taseer murder: Thousands mourn at Mumtaz Qadri funeral
(about 5 hours later)
The funeral is taking place in Pakistan of the former bodyguard executed for killing Punjab's governor over his opposition to blasphemy laws. Thousands of Pakistanis have turned out for the funeral of a former bodyguard executed for killing Punjab's governor over his opposition to blasphemy laws.
Security was tight as about 50,000 mourners gathered to pay their last respects to Mumtaz Qadri in Rawalpindi. Security was tight as a crowd of about 30,000 gathered to pay their last respects to Mumtaz Qadri in Rawalpindi.
Qadri was hailed as a hero by Islamists for the 2011 killing of Salman Taseer, who wanted to reform the strict laws.Qadri was hailed as a hero by Islamists for the 2011 killing of Salman Taseer, who wanted to reform the strict laws.
Thousands of police are deployed along the route of the funeral procession and in the nearby capital, Islamabad. Thousands of police were deployed along the route of the funeral procession and in the nearby capital, Islamabad.
Qadri supporters threw rose petals on his coffin, Reuters reports from Liaquat Bagh park where the funeral was being held. Qadri supporters threw rose petals on his coffin, Reuters reports from Liaquat Bagh park where the funeral was held.
His execution on Monday prompted protesters to take to the streets in cities in Pakistan. "He lives! Qadri lives!" mourners chanted, the news agency reported. "From your blood, the revolution will come!"
How Punjab governor's killer became a hero
What are Pakistan's blasphemy laws?What are Pakistan's blasphemy laws?
But the rallies in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad were mostly peaceful. Demonstrators burned tyres and chanted slogans, as well blocking some roads into Islamabad. Security forces kept their distance and stick-wielding activists of the hardline Sunni Tehreek movement, which organised the funeral prayers, controlled the crowd.
Heightened security: Ilyas Khan, BBC News, at the scene in Islamabad The coffin was then taken in its flower-strewn ambulance some 20km (12.5 miles) north to Qadri's ancestral village on the eastern outskirts of Islamabad.
Islamabad is unusually quiet this morning. Schools are shut, most markets are likely to remain closed, and lawyers are observing a strike. Authorities have placed shipping containers on roads to seal the Red Zone, where government buildings are located. His execution on Monday prompted protesters to take to the streets in cities in Pakistan.
Neighbouring Rawalpindi, where the burial will take place, is largely off-limits for commuters, especially areas around the venue. But the rallies in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad were mostly peaceful. Demonstrators burned tyres and chanted slogans, as well as blocking some roads into Islamabad.
There is heightened security in all major cities and towns. The authorities in Karachi have banned pillion-riding on motorbikes until Friday to prevent drive-by attacks.
Large crowds are expected to pour in for the funeral. The tempo is being built up by religious groups, including the mainstream Jamaat-e-Islami party which termed Monday, the day of Qadri's hanging, as the "black day" and announced daily protests until Friday.
But fear of violence is not as acute as one would have expected some years ago. Monday's protests did not attract large crowds and protesters did not show a willingness to take on the security personnel manning the cordons.
Also, Pakistan's often cacophonic TV news channels have been uncharacteristically restrained, apparently following firm official advice. This has kept public anxiety at a lower level.
Qadri was executed at 04:30 local time (23:30 GMT) at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi on Monday.Qadri was executed at 04:30 local time (23:30 GMT) at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi on Monday.
He had trained as an elite police commando and was assigned to Salman Taseer as his bodyguard. Qadri shot the politician 28 times at an Islamabad market in January 2011 and was sentenced to death later that year.He had trained as an elite police commando and was assigned to Salman Taseer as his bodyguard. Qadri shot the politician 28 times at an Islamabad market in January 2011 and was sentenced to death later that year.
He claimed it was his religious duty to kill the minister, who was an outspoken critic of Pakistan's harsh blasphemy laws and supported liberal reforms.He claimed it was his religious duty to kill the minister, who was an outspoken critic of Pakistan's harsh blasphemy laws and supported liberal reforms.
Pakistan has seen Islamist groups grow in influence in recent years and several high-profile blasphemy cases.Pakistan has seen Islamist groups grow in influence in recent years and several high-profile blasphemy cases.
Blasphemy is an extremely sensitive issue in Pakistan and critics argue that blasphemy laws are often misused to settle personal scores and unfairly target minorities.Blasphemy is an extremely sensitive issue in Pakistan and critics argue that blasphemy laws are often misused to settle personal scores and unfairly target minorities.
Who was Salman Taseer?Who was Salman Taseer?
Read more: Death of a liberalRead more: Death of a liberal
Are you in the area? Have you witnessed protests, or been affected by heightened security measures? You can get in touch using the form below.Are you in the area? Have you witnessed protests, or been affected by heightened security measures? You can get in touch using the form below.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
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