Civil society activists organised two vigils in Lahore to honour slaim former governor Salmaan Taseer on his second death anniversary on Saturday.
A vigil was organised at Charing Cross and one at the Liberty roundabout. No member of the Taseer family showed up at either vigil.
Participants of the vigil at Liberty roundabout held placards and photos of Taseer, who was killed by one of his guards Mumtaz Qadri in Islamabad in 2011.
“We organised this vigil to pay tribute to Shaheed Salmaan Taseer on his second death anniversary to commemorate his sacrifice and fearless championing the rights of minorities. We demand punishment for his killer Mumtaz Qadri,” said Abdullah Malik, one of the organisers of the vigil at Chairing Cross. He said Pakistan must not allow extremists to enforce their views on others.
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Napoleon Qayyum, a rights activist who attended both vigils, said the woman Taseer had syphatised with for being unfairly prosecuted was still in prison. He said, “The blasphemy law has become more entrenched than it was before Taseer’s death. People are more afraid of speaking about it. The law should be amended.” He said Mumtaz Qadri was still to be punished.
Asif Aqeel, another participant at the vigil, said Taseer had stood for a Christian woman at a time when most people shied away from speaking for her. He said steps should be taken to stop the misuse of blasphemy law.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2013.
COMMENTS (8)
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Great Man will live forever in Pak history for millions of years. He gave his life for good cause while other were not dare to speak.
Salute to his courage. He is never to be forgotton.
What about his kidnapped son? Nobody talks about him.
@Abbas:
He is gone and cannot be brought back. I really feel sorry for his family, particularly his son who was kidnapped. No one has stood up for him. Even Zardari who is the most secular could not help. However, it is appreciable that he was able to save Sherry Rehman by sending her to USA. In Pakistan anyone who has Koran in his hand can kill anyone who has Koran in his heart.
Great man give life for great cause. He will remembered forever but there will be no name of Qadri in tomorrow's hisstory.
He lived like lion.
Not a fan of him as a politician and a human being, but I had utmost respect for him sticking by his ideology on minority protection, even though on some level, he knew it would get him killed. He was one of the few voices (others being the late Shahbaz Bhatti and Sherry Rehman) who constantly stood by minorities who were being abused by the horrible blasphemy laws in Pakistan. Till the day he died, he stuck by his position despite a certain degree of disregard from the PPP and the provincial government. May he rest in peace and his killers be brought to justice.
The sacrifice he made for the dream of M. A. Jinnah will never be wasted and bear fruits soon. May his soul rest in peace and 'gundas' be eliminated who have occupied the entire humanity in an un-Islamic and brutal way.
One who stands for the oppressed especially monorities has to be a Great Soul...............Resting in the Heavens.....for sure