Taseer’s murder: Punjab Assembly condemns murder unanimously

Resolution moved by PPP's Raja Riaz and PML-N's Rana Sanaullah passed unanimously.

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly, on Monday, passed a unanimous resolution condemning the killing of Governor Salmaan Taseer. The resolution was moved by PPP’s Raja Riaz, PML-N’s Rana Sanaullah and PML-Q’s Chaudhry Zaheeruddin.

Earlier, Riaz, rising on a point of order, requested the chair’s permission to move the resolution. The resolution said that in Taseer’s death Punjab had lost an active political worker and a caring human being.

Taseer was elected to the parliament in 1988 and had served as governor since 2008.

The PPP reiterated during the session that no bill seeking amendments to blasphemy laws had been moved in the Parliament and that none was planned.  Riaz said he wanted to clarify any doubts about Governor Taseer and PPP’s stance on blasphemy laws. He said Taseer, born in a prominent Muslim family, had been a good Muslim. He said the late governor revered the Holy Prophet (pbuh) like all other Muslims. Riaz said the PPP would not be presenting a bill to amend the laws.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2011.