Candlelight vigil: Civil society raises its voice against bigotry

LAHORE: The Joint Action Committee for People’s Rights organised, on Friday, a vigil in front of the Governor’s House. The committee held the vigil in memory of Salmaan Taseer, to press the government to prosecute his killer and to ensure that peace is maintained.

The participants held placards condemning bigotry and intolerance and chanted slogans that self proclaimed laws will not be accepted. Participants said that there had been incitement to violence and religious hatred had been used as a tool since the regime of General Ziaul Haq. They said things worsened during the dictatorship of General Pervez Musharraf. They demanded legislation to put an end to such incitement to violence and to militancy in the name of religion. They also asked for a review of all laws that violated the fundamental rights of citizens and provided extremists with the opportunity to provoke violence and impose their views on others.

The participants asked all political and democratic forces to denounce such acts and reinforce efforts to pave the way for a tolerant and equitable society. They said the real issues the country faced were of poverty, inequality, lack of peace, economic instability and lack of continuity of democratic governance. Forces of hate and violence are deliberately diverting attention and resources from real issues by promoting religious conflict. A peaceful and stable Pakistan would be contrary to their agenda of gaining ascendency through chaos, anarchy and violence.

They expressed their concern at the glorification of Taseer’s killer and demanded responsible media coverage as well as political discourse and public debates encouraging freedoms of thought, speech and rule of law. They appealed to the citizens not to support elements that preached a campaign of hate.

People’s Justice Forum president Abdullah Malik said people should oppose militants who left to themselves will lead the country into extremism and certain destruction.

Salima Hashmi, a former principal of the National College of Arts and a cosuin of Taseer, said, “I strongly condemn the brutal killing and demand justice from the government.” She added that the murderer must be tried according to the law of the land.

IA Rehman, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) director, strongly condemned the heinous killing of Taseer and demanded justice. Hussain Naqi, another HRCP director, also strongly opposed and condemned the wave of extremism in society.

Father Manuel Yousaf Mani said that the murder of one person amounted to the massacre of all humanity. He said such acts need to be condemned as they go against the values humanity holds dear. Advocate Khurram Latif Khosa called Taseer’s killing a political murder.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2011.