Islamabad:
The Pakistani judge who passed the death sentence on the assassin of Governor Salmaan Taseer today went on an indefinite leave, a day after his courtroom was attacked by lawyers and hardline Islamic groups warned the government against implementing the verdict.
Judge Pervez Ali Shah of Rawalpindi's anti-terrorism court No II, who had convicted Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri for killing Taseer on Saturday, had gone on leave for an indefinite period, Express 24/7 news channel reported.
Shah had been receiving threats since the hearing of Qadri's case had started.
On Saturday, Shah awarded two death sentences to the self-confessed assassin of Taseer, on two counts of murder and terrorism.
Qadri, a police guard who was part of Taseers security detail, gunned down the outspoken Governor outside a restaurant in Islamabad in January for criticising Pakistans controversial blasphemy law.
The verdict triggered protests across the country and Islamic groups have said the implementation of the death sentence could spark further unrest.
A group of lawyers ransacked Shahs courtroom and smashed windows during a protest yesterday. Shah was present in the courtroom at the time of the attack.