Taseer and his stand for minorities remembered

Civil society members hold a vigil for the slain governor of Punjab.

ISLAMABAD: Civil society activists on Sunday demanded speedy justice to the heirs of slain governor Salmaan Taseer during a chehlum organised by the ‘Citizen of Democracy’. Taseer was assassinated on January 4 by one of his own bodyguards.

Parliamentarians, civil society members, activists, lawyers and a large number of students gathered at Kohsar Market to mark the proceedings.

They urged parliamentarians to stand firm on the floor of the house to condemn the governor’s murder and asked the judiciary to take up the case impartially.

Farhatullah Babar, Bushra Gauhar, Nafeesha Shah, Justice (retd) Tariq Mehmood, Marvi Sirmad, Farzana Bari, Ashfaq Saleem Mirza, Harris

Khalique, Romana Bashir, Nageen Hyat, Shyaan Afzal, Rehana Hashmi, Tariq Rehman, and others spoke at the occasion.

They said the murder of Salmaan Taseer was a cowardly act of violence that could not create fear and stop them from raising their voice

for justice. “We will keep on raising our voice for the protection of minorities and innocent people of Pakistan,” said a participant.

They said the political parties should accept this challenge and Pakistan should be run according to the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Farhatullah Babar on the occasion said, “Taseer laid his life for the rights of downtrodden people.” He said it is the need of the hour that all progressive, liberal and moderate forces come forward to counter extremism, bigotry, and prejudice prevailing in the country.

He also paid tribute to Taseer saying that he was a liberal and outspoken person who fought for salvaging the rights of oppressed people.

Moreover, Justice Tariq Mehmood said after the assassination of the governor, the country was divided into two segments, with a surprising majority favouring Qadri.

He said the nation had recently gone through a massive movement for ‘rule of law’ when the judiciary was freed from a dictator; therefore, people should not forget its importance.

“Our survival lies by implementation of constitutions. Without it, there will be nothing left but anarchy,” he said

The speakers urged upon the media not to project killers as heroes, saying that media was a tool for changing.

They also urged the parliament to frame such laws which made punishment possible for those who support terrorism and extremism.

The speakers called upon all liberal and progressive forces to come forward and join hands to eradicate all those forces that want to harm peace and ongoing democratic process in the country.

Harris Khalique, Marvi Sirmed and others recited poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Habib Jalib on the occasion while Arieb Azhar, a noted Sufi

and folk music artist, sung Bulleh Shah’s poetry ‘Makkay Gian Gal Mukdi Nahi’, and motivational song ‘Mera Bhi Hay Tera Bhi Hay, Pakistan’.

The participants lit candles and laid floral wreaths in memory of Taseer in front of his giant portrait.

Published in The Express  Tribune, January 31^st,  2011.