| Submit your comments on this article |
| India-Pakistan |
| Civil society members demand immediate punishment to Qadri |
| 2011-01-31 |
| [Pak Daily Times] Terming Salmaan Taseer 'Shaheed Insaniyat' (Martyr of Humanity), civil society members on Sunday demanded that the parliamentarians strongly condemn the murder of Taseer on floor of the house and appealed to the judiciary to immediately award Mumtaz Qadri death sentence proving him a killer instead of a hero. Citizens for Democracy organised Chehlum of the slain governor at Kohsar Market. Several parliamentarians, civil society members, human rights ... which are not the same thing as individual rights, mind you... activists and a large number of students participated in the ceremony. Spokesman for Presidency Farhatullah Babar, Bushra Gauhar, Nafeesa Shah, Justice (r) Tariq Mehmood, Marvi Sirmed, Farzana Bari, Ashfaq Saleem Mirza, Harris Khalique, Romana Bashir, Nageen Hyat, Shyaan Afzal, Rehana Hashmi, Tariq Rehman and others spoke on the occasion. Speakers said the murder of Salmaan Taseer was a cowardly act of violence, which could not create fear and stop them from raising voice for justice and for the protection of minorities and innocent people of Pakistain. They said Pakistain should be a country presenting the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and the political parties should accept this challenge. "The country has lost a hero who was direly needed for it. Taseer was known for his positive approach towards the equality and rights for women minorities. He spoke out, several times, against blasphemy law, especially in the case of Aasia Bibi, for whom he demanded a pardon," they said adding all those who wanted freedom in Pakistain should honour him. Speakers said that it was a time to acknowledge that religious fanaticism was penetrated in the social fabric and unity was needed to counter it in an effective way. "We condemn the thinking that see Qadri as a hero. We condemn the role of lawyer's fraternity members who showered rose petals on Qardi being a murderer and offered him to contest his case free of cost. Extremists like Qadri want to sabotage peace in the country, " they said. Speakers said media was the fourth pillar of a state and it played a pivotal role in bringing change in society. They said it should project truth and present Qadri as a murderer, not as a hero. They urged the parliament to enact such laws, which could render punishing possible to those who supported terrorism. They urged upon all liberal and progressive forces to come forward and join hands to eradicate all those forces that wanted to sabotage peace and ongoing democratic process in the country. "The assassinated governor was a brave person who dedicatedly worked for rights of the oppressed and he was the foremost politicians who talked about elimination or the amendment of blasphemy law in the country as they are being wrongly used for exploitation of minorities in particular," the speakers said. Harris Khalique, Marvi Sirmed and others recited poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Habib Jalib on the occasion while Arieb Azhar, a noted Sufi and folk music artist, sang Bulleh Shah's poetry 'Makkay Gian Gal Mukdi Nah,i' and motivational song Mera Bhi Hay Tera Bhi Hay, Pakistain' on the occasion. At the end, the participants offered Fatiha for the departed soul of Taseer and prayed for the prosperity and progress of the nation. The participants lit candles and laid floral wreaths on the portrait of Taseer. |
| Posted by:Fred |