Salmaan Taseer’s assassination was a polarising event, brought into sharp relief by the planned responses to his first death anniversary.
The religious right has called for observing January 4, Taseer’s first death anniversary, in ‘honour’ of his self-confessed assassin Mumtaz Qadri and mark it as the Tahafuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat (protection of the sanctity of Prophethood) day.
The Sunni Ittehad Council, an umbrella organisation of Barelvi groups, announced holding a rally from Minar-e-Pakistan to Data Darbar, in favour of the former governor’s assassin.
The announcement, however, was condemned by rights activists who termed their call ‘inhumane and unethical.’
Such celebrations are a symbol of intolerance in society, said Abdullah Malik, a human rights activist, while talking to The Express Tribune.
Even if the religious right was in favour of killing Taseer, they should at least stop condemning him after his death, he said, adding that it is insensitive for the bereaved family.
Malik said rights activists have organised a candlelight vigil to pay tribute to Taseer on Wednesday.
He also condemned Qadri’s supporters for justifying an assassin who took the law into his own hand, and whose act was termed illegal by the court.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2012.
COMMENTS (17)
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@Ahmed: What line did Taseer cross? Qadri is a murderer and deserves to be hanged.
@Ali Sher: I guess people like you share the responsibility for Salman Taseer's assasination. I am looking forward to the day when Qadri is hanged for his crime.
Taseer had definitely crossed the lines and got what he deserved. A good lesson to handful of "liberals" to be in their limits. Qadri has done it and we are proud of him. It doesn't matter now if Qadri is jailed or hanged or whatever.
Even those who disagree with Taseer should protest his murder at the hands of fundamentalists. It reminds me of the following quote regarding the rise of the Nazis:
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist; Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a socialist; Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist; Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew; Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak out for me.
If we're too scared to stand up today, it'll only get more difficult.
@Ali Sher I fully agree with you. Let's dispatch Qadri so that he can be in Allah's embrace sooner rather than later.
@correct option Kindly keep your lectures for youreslf, your family and a few million liberals of Pakistan. Dont try to school me I have read the Quran twice Salman Taseer asked for this and he deserved this and I and millions of other in Pakistan are proud of Mumtaz Qadri... May ALLAH bless him and also Amir Cheema Shaheeds soul Ameen
Shame on us!! We do not deserve a hero like Salman Taseer because he was courageous and upright man!! My solute to him and his family!! As famous Urdu Poet Meer Taqi Meer once said: "Mausam Aaya tou Nakhl-e-Daar pay Meer..... Sar-e-Mansoor hee ka baar aaya"
What's wrong with you people -- have you no moral compass - have you no sense of shame?
@Ali Sher: Please read the Quran, the true word of Allah and tell us where it prescribes killing for this crime.
Then read the Sahih Hadeeth and check again if Nabi SAW ever meted out a punishmewnt like this.
Once you've had this basic lesson in Islam, come back and read your comment.
I pray for you and others like you to be forgiven for rejoicing in someone's death like this.
@M.Bilal: How exactly did Taseer cross the line? All he did was say that the blasphemy law served only as a method of prosecution innocent non-Muslims for personal and political gains, and that it should be scrapped or amended. Is that wrong? If anything, I call it saying the right thing. But then, it's too bad that supporting what's right can get you killed in Pakistan!
I love Mumtaz Qadri... May Allah bless him
Taseer crossed the line and so did Qadri..
the religious parties should actually mark the calendars for which days they'd like to do their work (assuming they do actually have jobs or work to do).
They seem to have endless time to waste on ridiculous things shuch as venting their spleen on america or celebrating murderers.No wonder noone ever votes them into power, they would spend all days of the year having varied theme parties
if you dont have the sense or sensibilty to understand that no person can given punishment to another , then you need to go back to the basics of Islam (and humanity also)
How backwards can people be?
Sad incident.
I feel ashamed off being a Pakistani for celeberating a day for qadri