Twitter alert: ‘The brave Salmaan Taseer’

Former Punjab governor was shot 27 times by his security guard for speaking against the blasphemy law.

Two years ago on this day, former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer was brutally gunned down by his private security guard for speaking against the country’s blasphemy law.

His self-confessed killer, Malik Mumtaz Qadri, was made a hero by religious fanatics, who garlanded him when he confessed to the crime. A Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court later sentenced him to death.

On Taseer’s 2nd death anniversary, the local twitterati paid tribute to the former governor, terming him the “Lion of Punjab”.

Here are the top tweets from the trend #SalmanTaseer:

Nadeem F. Paracha

Remembering #SalmanTaseer - his social wit, political guile and noble stand.

Aseefa B Zardari

RIP Shaheed #SalmanTaseer Lion of Punjab we will never forget you ...thoughts and prayers are with his family

Sharmeen Obaid ‏

In memory of #Salmantaseer and all that he stood for- A tolerant #Pakistan worth fighting for

Nasim Zehra

Fateha for #SalmanTaseer & prayer that Allah guides us to use the only power we have, power of words to end the darkness spread in Pak in Islam's name

PakistanPeoplesParty

Tribute to #SalmanTaseer, a brave, liberal and outspoken personality - #PPP #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/7qpUCgLy

Ali Arqam ‏

The best tribute to Shaheed #SalmanTaseer will be to get his son Shahbaz Taseer safe return to home,

Saqlain Imam

#SalmanTaseer, who, as a follower of the Prophet (PBUH) took stand for weaker people, still struggling for his own place in #Pakistan!

Nadia Jamil ‏

With #SalmanTaseer gone, WHO in power will be a voice for bullied minorities? Who will visit poor neglected women in jail with family to bring cheer/hope?

Ali Salman Alvi ‏

People die, ideologies do NOT... #SalmanTaseer lives on. #Pakistan

Raza Rumi

I have not reconciled with the death of #SalmaanTaseer nor with the idea of accepting that people can actually celebrate murder. #Pakistan