Punjab governor’s killer told fellow guards about plot

ISLAMABAD - Mumtaz Qadri, the assassin of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, has disclosed during investigations that he had informed his fellow Pakistani guards about his intentions, a media report said Tuesday.

Qadri had told the other guards not to open fire at him after he killed Taseer as he would lay down his weapon after the murder, Geo TV quoted officials as saying. Qadri said that he wanted to be arrested.

Taseer was shot dead Tuesday by Qadri, who was a member of the governor’s special security squad. He fired nine bullets from close range as the governor was coming out of a coffee shop towards his vehicle in Kohsar market in Islamabad.

Qadri was taken into custody and investigations are under way.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has announced three-day state mourning for Taseer.

Security has been beefed up at sensitive locations while profiles of all personnel on VIP duty are being scanned once again.