[Arab News] The governor of Pakistain's wealthiest and most populous province was rubbed out in the capital Tuesday by one of his own guards, who later told interrogators that he was angry about the politician's stance against the country's blasphemy law, officials said.The attacker, Malik Mumtaz Qadri from Elite Force of Punjab, shot up the governor at Kohsar Market in Islamabad where Taseer went for lunch with friends.
An intelligence official interrogating Qadri said the commando boasted about the liquidation, saying he was proud to have killed a blasphemer. Qadri, 26, pumped nine bullets into Taseer, hitting him in chest and face.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik said seven people were jugged for investigation. He said security was being beefed up around Christian localities across the country.
"We will see whether it was an individual act or weather someone had asked him to do it," said Malik. "It was one shot first and then a burst. I think nine or 10 shots," said R.A. Khan, a witness. "I rushed over and saw coppers pinning down another police commando, who was lying on road with his face down."
Five other people were maimed as other security personnel responded to the attack.
Taseer's funeral prayer would be offered on Wednesday at the Governor House in Lahore.
Taseer was a member of Pakistain People's Party (PPP) and a close associate of President Asif Ali
President Ten PercentZardari
... husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, who showed remarkably little curiosity about who actually done her in ...
. In recent days, as the PPP has faced the loss of its coalition partners, the 56-year-old Taseer insisted that the government would survive. It was his very public stance against the blasphemy law that apparently led to his killing.
Pakistain's blasphemy law has come under greater scrutiny in recent weeks after a Christian woman, Aasia Bibi, was sentenced to death for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The law effectively prescribes death for anyone convicted of insulting Islam.
During a recent interview with Arab News, Taseer said: "I do not have the authority to remit the death sentence ... she (Aasia) has filed a mercy petition addressed to the president and I will send her petition to the president with favorable recommendation."
Shahbaz Bhatti, minister for minority affairs, said Pakistain's religious minorities would join the PPP in two-week mourning for Taseer.
Taseer, son of a poet, Muhammad Din Taseer, and nephew of legendary poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz, was born in Lahore. He went to the city's St. Anthony's School and Government College and then to London School of Economics. In 1977, he joined Tehrik-e-Istiqlal and in 1979, after Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's execution, he joined the PPP.
All politicians including Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Altaf Hussain, Pakistain Mohammedan League (Nawaz) leader Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Müslim League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Information Minister Fauzia Wahab, condemned the liquidation. Gilani announced a three-day period of national mourning and ordered flags lowered to half-mast.
Meanwhile,
...back at the ranch...
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Fazlur Rahman, who is currently in Madinah, said that in a country where there are courts, legislative assemblies and other organs of a democratic state, nobody should take the law into their own hands. "I condemn it. I am a political worker and believe in democracy. Any act that derails the political system is not in the interest of Pakistain," he said.
Rahman said there is extremism on both sides. "There are some people in Pakistain who in their quest to please the West describe jihad -- which is a just struggle -- as terrorism. Parliament should enact laws that leave no room for anybody to violate the principles of Islam," he said.
Riyadh-based Pak national Faiz Al-Najdi said he was shocked by the killing. "I condemn this ghastly incident and I believe this should be condemned by all. Pakistain is visibly in the grip of anarchy. Such incidents surely bring a bad name to the people and the country. It is needless to underscore here that violence breeds violence and it would only put the country on the path of anarchy. And, I believe ultimately this would lead to Pakistain's destruction." He said the killing indicates that the security apparatus in the country has been penetrated by the Islamic myrmidon elements who have been indoctrinated to resort to violence. "In my opinion, it is about time the security forces in the country take stock of such situation."
In 1981, Taseer married Amna Haq. Taseer is survived by seven children.