Islamabad, Feb 29 (IANS): Pakistani authorities on Monday executed elite commando Mumtaz Qadri for the murder of former Punjab governor Salman Taseer in 2011.

Qadri was hanged at the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi after an anti-terrorism court convicted and sentenced him to death in October 2011 for shooting Taseer 28 times in Islamabad's Kohsar Market on January 4, 2011.

Governor Taseer had reportedly criticized Pakistan's anti-blasphemy laws, prompting Qadri to shoot him in broad daylight, Daily Pakistan reported.

He had filed a mercy plea before President Mamnoon Hussain after Supreme Court maintained his conviction in October last year.

Religious parties had threatened nationwide protests if Qadri was hanged. In view of a possible backlash, the president’s family has been moved from Karachi to Islamabad.

Strict security measures were taken within the jail premises and a heavy contingent of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) personnel were deployed to avoid any untoward incident.

All routes leading to the jail were sealed.