"The high court suspended the implementation of the death sentence awarded by the anti-terrorism court until the appeal hearing concludes," said defense lawyer Khawaja Sharif.

The court held a preliminary hearing to admit the appeal filed last week by Qadri’s lawyers, who was working as one of Taseer's bodyguards when he shot him dead. The court admitted the appeal.

The high court bench, which heard the appeal, comprised of Chief Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rahman and Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi. The court will now fix a date for the next hearing.

Sharif had requested the court to give permission to ulemas to participate in the court’s proceedings, however the chief justice rejected his request and said that the court could not allow them to enter the court room due to security reasons.

The court had earlier rejected a verbal request by the defense lawyers for the appeal to be heard in open session for security concerns.

Qadri has confessed to killing Taseer outside a shop in Islamabad on Jan. 4.

Scores of people from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) including its Chairman Muhammd Afzal Qadri, Member of National Assembly (MNA) Sahibzada Fazal Karim along with the Qadri’s supporters were also present outside the court. They were carrying banners and placards in favor of Qadri.