In October 2011, Jilani appeared as a guest on Rehmatul Lil Alameen, a programme on UK television station DM Digital.

During the broadcast, Jilani made comments with reference to the shooting dead in early 2011 of the Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer.

Ofcom ruled that, "on a reasonable interpretation of the scholar's remarks, he was personally advocating that all Muslims had a duty to attack or kill apostates or those perceived to have insulted the Prophet.

"[3][4] In response, it was made clear that Jilani was commenting on the law of Pakistan in relation to those who were alleged to have profaned the character of Muhammad.

In this instance, Jilani was discussing the case of Mumtaz Qadri who had been sentenced to death by the Court of Pakistan for killing the governor Salmaan Taseer.