Taseer’s assassination condemned

Parliamentarians, federal ministers, civil society members and others condemn assassination.

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentarians, federal ministers, civil society members and others condemned the assassination of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer by one of his bodyguards on Tuesday.

Insani Haqooq Ittehad, a network of civil society organisations of the twin cities also condemned the act. They described the incident as gruesome and inhuman.

However religious clerics, when approached for comments, remained tight-lipped on the assassination.

Federal ministers including Qamar Zaman Kaira, Naveed Qamar, Ahmed Mukhtar, Manzoor Wattoo, Senator Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari and Faisal Raza Abidi condemned the act during their visit to Polyclinic Hospital.

Bokhari lamented the fact that the governor was assassinated at the hands of his own bodyguard. He called it an unfortunate and cowardly act. He promised a thorough probe and said that the elements behind it would be brought to justice.

Social activist Farzana Bari blamed the government for Taseer’s assassination. Talking to The Express Tribune, she accused the party leaders of deserting him at a time when a propaganda campaign against him was underway.

Bari condemned the act, saying that the blasphemy law was man-made and overly misused. She called upon the government to take action against those who had issued a ‘fatwa’ against the governor, and instigated innocent people to take human lives. She also demanded heightened security for Sherry Rahman, who is facing similar threats.

Dr Abid Suleri, executive director of Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), called the incident “barbaric and against humanity.”

He said, “His death will add to political instability in the country, which could worsen the state of law and order. He was an important political figure and had been defending the proposed amendments to the blasphemy laws.”

He added that he believed Taseer died for the right cause and pledged SDPI’s support for liberal and progressive forces.

Some religious scholars remained tight-lipped when asked about their views, saying that the issue was too sensitive to be talked about. Professor Ibrahim of the Jamat-e-Islami and Mufti Muneeb, chairman of the Ruit-e-Hilal committee refused to talk when contacted for their comments, saying the issue was “too touchy.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2011.