Salmaan Taseer deserved to live and so does every sane, democratic and thinking citizen of Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD: Salmaan Taseer deserved to live and so does every sane, democratic and thinking citizen of Pakistan, including those belonging to the downtrodden minorities. I am shocked at the kind of reaction shown by religious parties/right who, instead of condemning this vicious, inhumane and brutal act, are out in numbers to prove that the late governor invited trouble by saying what he said. Freedom of speech and thought is enshrined in our Constitution, but there are not many who have the mental and physical courage to state the truth and then stick to it. Unfortunately, the freedoms mentioned in our sacrosanct Constitution are limited to paper only. And even more unfortunately, all those who claim to be custodians of freedom and liberal values are also quiet on this.
I fully agree with Tazeen Javed, Abid Qaiyyum Suleri and Shahzad Chaudhry that it’s time for civil society to wake up and make its presence felt, otherwise the next victim of such barbarity and hooliganism will be from amongst the so-called enlightened ones. It’s time to call a spade a spade and rope in those responsible for spreading and sponsoring hate, intolerance and bigotry in an already deeply-divided society. It’s also time for the media to show some sobriety and responsibility by not being an accomplice in the glorification of a murderer. Let’s honour Salmaan Taseer by furthering his cause.
Edgar Felix
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2011.
