The Governor of Punjab has been assassinated by one of his own guards for his stance opposing the Blasphemy law and his support for the freedom of Asia Bibi.
Read more here:
http://www.sify.com/news/punjab-governor-critic-of-islamist-militancy-killed-by-guard-news-international-lbeuakidefb.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70320L20110104
View the BBC news report here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12111831
We ask Christians across the globe to pary for succour for the family of this man who was willing to stand up and be counted in the face of significant adversity. He chose a dangerous path when he supported freedom for Aasia Bibi and deserves recognition. He is a true Pakistani hero and a Martyr for the justice and equality movement in Pakistan.
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Dear brother -in-Christ
ReplyDeleteDr.Nazir Bhatti,
President PCC
I received worth reading interview of Salman Taseer Governor of the Punjab who has been
assassinated brutally by his own body guard which I am going to forward you.
2) I strongly condemned this act of savagness.He was a man of God with kind heart who met
Asia Bibi in jail and submitted Petition of mercy for her release to the President of Pakistan
who promised to free her from the punishment of death by using his inherent Constitutional
power. He did a wonderful work before his assassination. May his soul rest in peace.
3) I handed over Petition to the Hon.Jason Keny,Minister for citizenship and Immigration affairs
and highlighted present situation of helplessness of the Christian community under the sword
of blasphemy laws.Thanks for publishing that pic in PCP.
Agnes Massey
Lawyer,High Court LHR Pakistan
President, PCC
Chapter Canada
"There is no going back: Labour Party Pakistan stoutly condemns the brutal murder of Salman Taseer
ReplyDeleteLabour Party Pakistan stoutly condemns the brutal murder of Salman Taseer, Governor of Punjab killed today by a security guard. We believe that it is not an act of an individual acting on his own behalf. The guard was acting on the consistent instigation of the religious fanatics who were wrongly blaming Salman Taseer for terming blasphemy laws as “black law”. This is an act of a collective thinking of the fanatics that any ideological opponent must be illuminated physically.
“The blood of Salman Taseer should not go in vain. Pakistan People’s Party should abandon all policies to please the religious fanatics. There should be resolute fight back against the Mullahs who want Pakistan to become another Taliban control country” Farooq Tariq spokesperson Labour Party Pakistan and Nisar Shah general secretary LPP said in a joint press statement while reacting on the news. “All those justifying this brutal murder must be brought to justice, no alliance what so ever be made with the religious political parties who are mainly responsible for this murder.” they said in the statement.
Labour Party Pakistan expresses condolences and full sympathies with the family of Salman Taseer. It proposes that all progressive political trends must unite against the onslaught of religious fanatics and their political masters. State must be separated from religion and the murder should not deter the efforts to make necessary changes in the blasphemy laws.
It is an attempt by the fanatics to silence all opponents. There is no going back after this brutal killing. Labour Party Pakistan will continue its efforts to unite all the progressive forces under one banner against the religious fundamentalists and a political response must be brought forward to counter the growing influence of the fanatics".
I hope that comrades in developed countries will understand LPP views when we use the word progressive or socialist. This is not the same as you would use in your countries.
comradely,
Farooq Tariq
spokesperson
Labour Party Pakistan
Salman's assassination is beyond symbolic. This is the start point of a struggle between the forces that bank on the establishment and mullahs for power and the true democratic forces within Pakistan. The nuptial knot between PMLN and PPP earlier today ensured that for sometime the union of crooks with the forces of inertia and regression does not take place; but for how long?
ReplyDeleteBut perhaps it also hastened Salman Taseer's Death, our senior from St. Anthony's High School Lahore. Does it bring an end to the era of the Punjab Progressives like Faiz, Mian Ifthikhar and Dr. Taseer, or will the pyre burn?
Dear Wilson
ReplyDeleteThanks for sending this I have been watching this news since morning. The way media personnel, Biased Journalists & Clerics motivated and instigated to the extremists this was predicted some thing will be done.
May God protect others from them
Kind regards
Bro John Bosco
ALL INDIA CHRISTIAN COUNCIL MOURNS TASEER’S ASSASSINATION – HE WAS A RARE VOICE OF SANITY IN PAKISTAN
ReplyDeleteThe Christian community in India is shocked at the assassination Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, of one of the few sane voices in Pakistan, by his crazed bodyguard. Mr. Taseer’s life long opposition to the black laws of blasphemy in Pakistan, used largely to target vulnerable Christian and other religious minorities, stands out in the midst of the fundamentalist cacophony that has smitten human rights in that country. We mourn Mr Taseer's death and convey our condolences to his family and to all Human Rights defenders in Pakistan.
The anti blasphemy laws must go. The All India Christian Council has consistently raised its voice against the anti-blasphemy laws at various Asian and other international forums. We urge the United States and other international friends of Pakistan and their civil societies to join Pakistan's human rights defenders in creating a powerful advocacy movement against such laws.
John Dayal
Secretary General, All India Christian Council, New Delhi, India
5th January 2011
ALL INDIA CHRISTIAN COUNCIL MOURNS TASEER’S ASSASSINATION – HE WAS A RARE VOICE OF SANITY IN PAKISTAN
ReplyDeleteThe Christian community in India is shocked at the assassination Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, of one of the few sane voices in Pakistan, by his crazed bodyguard. Mr. Taseer’s life long opposition to the black laws of blasphemy in Pakistan, used largely to target vulnerable Christian and other religious minorities, stands out in the midst of the fundamentalist cacophony that has smitten human rights in that country. We mourn Mr Taseer's death and convey our condolences to his family and to all Human Rights defenders in Pakistan.
The anti blasphemy laws must go. The All India Christian Council has consistently raised its voice against the anti-blasphemy laws at various Asian and other international forums. We urge the United States and other international friends of Pakistan and their civil societies to join Pakistan's human rights defenders in creating a powerful advocacy movement against such laws.
John Dayal
Secretary General, All India Christian Council, New Delhi, India
5th January 2011
Salman Taseer killed for Opposing Pakistan's Controversial Blasphemy Laws
ReplyDeleteSalman Taseer Governor Punjab was shot dead by one of his security guards in Islamabad today. The accused has told interrogators that the Governor’s stance on the country’s Blasphemy Laws instigated him to assassinate Governor Taseer.
Federal Minister for Minorities Mr Shahbaz Bhatti has condemned the killing of Governor Taseer in the strongest possible manner; Mr Bhatti stated that it was the Governor’s principle stand against the Blasphemy Laws that led to his murder. The Federal Minister has declared two weeks of mourning by the religious minority community in Pakistan.
The Federal Minister for Minorities has called for a thorough investigation of the killing and stated that the radical Islamic Organizations that issued religious decrees against Governor Taseer should be investigated. “It is these elements that are creating anarchy in the country” Shahbaz Bhatti stated. “This murder is the result of instigation in which some religious circles advocated the governor's murder. Those who instigated should also be investigated” Shahbaz Bhatti demanded.
Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws were put in the spot light when Asia Bibi a Christian Woman was falsely accused of committing blasphemy and was sentenced to death by a session’s court in Punjab. Governor Taseer visited Asia Bibi in Jail and vowed to ensure justice. He also assured her that he will submit her mercy petition to the President of Pakistan for Pardon.
Salman Taseer’s very public stance against the controversial blasphemy laws have led to his killing. The governor described the blasphemy law as a "black law," and courageously raised a voice against the blasphemy Laws.
The Federal Minister for Minorities has himself come under threats from Islamic Radical Organization on his principle stand against the Blasphemy Laws. Sahbaz Bhatti has become the target of Islamic Extremists, who have warned him of dire consequences, they have in the recent past threatened to behead him when he proposed amendments in the Blasphemy laws.
Hard-line Islamic groups have also demanded his removal from the Federal Cabinet and have threatened to use force in order to stop him from bringing about changes in the Blasphemy Laws.
Shahbaz Bhatti has termed the Blasphemy Laws as a “tool in the hands of the extremists” to victimize religious minorities. The blasphemy Laws have long been misused against religious minorities to settle personal and religious disputes.
Shahbaz Bhatti has long campaigned against the blasphemy laws; he has declared that these laws need to be reviewed/revisited and appropriately amended in order to prevent their misuse, thus escalating his exposure to threats and criticisms.
The Federal Minister for Minorities while talking to media outside the hospital where the slain Governor’s body was taken, vowed to continue to pursue amendments in the Blasphemy Laws, he stated that such cowardly acts will not create hindrances to the cause. "I will continue" Shahbaz Bhatti said "I will campaign for this.......these fanatics cannot stop me from moving any further steps against the misuse of the blasphemy law."
When asked if he was in fear of his own life, Shahbaz Bhatti said he was not, but "I am getting threats. I was told by the religious extremists that if you will make any amendments in this law, you will be killed. But I am ready to sacrifice my life for the principled stand I have taken because the people of Pakistan are being victimized under the pretense of blasphemy law."
New York Times finally came out and condemned Pakistan Blasphemy law in Historic Editorial due to assassination
ReplyDeleteof Punjab Governor Salman Taseer
After so many years of saying nothing.
New York Times is the most influential newspaper in America, but trails in circulation to Wall Street Journal
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/opinion/05wed2.html?hp
In a historic move, liberal New York Times, the nation's most influential newspaper, has condemned Pakistani Blasphemy
ReplyDeletelaw and extremist Muslims directly.
This condemnation was spurred by the assassination of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer
Please see link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/opinion/05wed2.html?hp
Christian Cultural Association of South Asians condem the assination of Governor Salman Taseer .We will probably hold a joint memoral services in which we will invite all Pakistani, Indian and local community.
ReplyDeleteSamuel Laldin
I pray God comforts the family of the late Governor Salman Taseer and protects the minority groups in Pakistan.
ReplyDeleteJust a reflection: there is a divide between the wealthy educated Pakistanis (Zamindaars) and the illiterate poor.
Maybe this is the reason why the young Pakistanis to forget their poverty and because of their lack of education, they let themselves be carried away by feelings of anger and passion for a religious cause. They kill all those who go against the laws of their religion.
I salute Mr SAlman Taseer for his courageous stand against the blasphemy laws.
I am just thinking. Has anybody seen God? He made man.Does He need people to defend or protect His name? God is God. He does what He wants in heaven and on earth.