Adil Najam
Salman Taseer – Governor Punjab, businessman, media mogul, PPP leader – was gunned down outside a restaurant in Kohsar Market, Islamabad, by one of his own guards. The guard – reportedly, a Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri – was part of the security Elite Force depute assigned to keep Salman Taseer safe gunned down the Punjab Governor with as many as 27 bullets. Later the guard handed himself to the police and said that he had killed Salman Taseer because of his vocal opposition to the Blasphemy Law.
Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri may have pulled the trigger but let us all hang our head in shame today because Salman Taseer was killed by the intolerance, the hatred, the extremism, the vigilantism, the violence and the jahalat that now defines our society. He was killed by the unchecked abundance of false sanctimony where custodians of morality have been breathing fire and instigating violence. Each one of us, including his own party, should be ashamed today for having tolerated the pall of intolerance that has eventually gunned down this man. Today’s Pakistan is defined by Mumtaz Hussain Qadris. They exist all around us. And it is all of us who tolerate them and their intolerance. It is this tolerance of intolerance that kills.
Today, it claimed yet one more victim.
Just as one example of many that we should have been paying heed to already, it was less than a month ago that a dispicable man in Peshawar was publicly offering money to anyone who would murder in the name of the blasphemy law. The news flashed on the media. Was highlighted in disgust by those like us. Yet, no action was taken; indeed, not even note was taken by those in power. It was ignored as mere ‘josh i khitaabat’ and emotionalism. It was obviously more. The tragedy is that there are too many like this man. Are people like him not responsible for spreading hatred and the results of that hatred? People instigating violence. People celebrating violence. People supporting violence. All of these people are responsible for Salman Taseer’s death. As are all of those who have stood silent and let these merchants of violence sell their wares. (Full story here).
At one level the details of what exactly happened in Islamabad today are less important than what we have allowed to happen in our societies for all the years that have led to this day, but for those who may not have seen the (still developing) details, here is an update from Dawn:
Gunmen killed the governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province, a senior member of the ruling party, in Islamabad on Tuesday, his spokesman said. “Yes, he has died,” said the spokesman for Salman Taseer. Police official Mohammad Iftikhar said Taseer was gunned down by one of his elite security force protectors. Five other people were wounded as other security personnel responded to the attack. Police said earlier Taseer had been shot nine times and wounded near his Islamabad home in the F6 sector and close to Kohsar market, a popular shopping and cafe spot frequented by wealthy Pakistanis and expatriates.
Another police official, Hasan Iqbal, said a pair of witnesses told the police that as the governor was leaving his vehicle, a man from his security squad fired at him. Taseer then fell, while other police officials fired on the attacker. In recent days, as the People’s Party has faced the loss of its coalition partners, the 56-year-old Taseer has insisted that the government will survive. But it was his stance against the blasphemy laws that apparently led to his killing.
Interior Minister Rahman Malik told reporters that the suspect in the case had surrendered to police and told them he killed Taseer because “the governor described the blasphemy laws as a black law.” Taseer was believed to be meeting someone for a meal, Malik said. Other members of his security detail were being questioned, Malik said. The security for Taseer was provided by the Punjab government. “We will see whether it was an individual act or someone had asked him” to do it, Malik said of the attacker.
More comments from the ATP Facebook Page:
– “FAILURE OF THIS STATE IS DUE TO THE REAL FACE OF TOLERENCE why should we tolerate the things that is against our religion against my beloved prophet. today this tolerent behaviour causes every one blame us that we are extreamist why if in europe you talk against HOLOCAUST they will jail u without any so called “tolerence” if they dont tolerate any thing which not against there religion but againbst there ppl so y we should tolerate any thing which is directly effecting our religion???????????”
– “Do you know the history or anything about the so called blasphemy law or like most just follow the moron mullah with whatever garbage he feeds you?”
– “Can’t describe how sad I was to read about this. So called defenders of Islam have no idea what it means to be human let alone people of faith, including some who have posted right here. Muslims have a bad rep for a reason… we have people who call themselves Muslim and then celebrate taking of another life. And then these same people wonder why Muslims aren’t exactly viewed as a people of peace. It’s just so shameful. How do you debate/engage with people who lack humanity.”
– “i am sunni muslim and i dont need to follow any law if some one insults my beloved Prophet i dont need to ask to follow any law i just kill that person this is what my blood say”
INNA LILLAHI WA INNAH ILAYHI RAJEOON
Rest in Peace, MR. Taseer.
You spoke the truth and the world cannot bear with it.
You spoke for the oppressed and whatever differences of political opinion I had with you, I respect you for that.
best revenge for Salman Taseer’s death will be to really clean up the Blasphemy law now and to clamp down on all those extremists that killed him.
Pakistan is and will go down the drain. This is the latest high-profile example of the reasons. Allah knows best how many low-profile murders, rape, intolerances happen daily in this country.
I did not agree with Salman Taseer’s views. I did not like the man, but that does not mean that any lunatic goes about killing him.
Can there be anyone more Blasphemous than the one who disobeys Allah and his Rasool (PBUH)???? Do I need to list out all the disobediences that Pakitanis are doing on daily basis…. murders, rapes, torture, rishwat, naap tole mein kami, dishonesty…. the list goes on… You know very well what you are doing.
Do you know who Abdullah bin Abi was?? If not, go read about him. No one could touch him, no one dared to call him kafir, our beloved Prophet (PBUH) even gave his own chaddar for his kafan, and led his janaza prayers…..
right aik insan ka qatal pori insaniyat ka katal hai…. par ye tu munafiq muslim tha aur pir aik hukamran b…. wow….
sharab peo nangay nachoo wo sahe hai zabardast pir ghustakhay rasool ke madad b karo .. kia bat hai is insan ke… kal pir tu koi b uth k ye sab suport kartay ga aur ham insaniyat k katal k maray is jaisay jaraseem ko talaf nai kar sakain gay…. salam hai is shakas ko jis nay toheen rasalat ko support karnay walay ko aur kise toheenay rasalat ko bacha k yahodio aur esaiyoon main apna makam paida karnay walay ko mara. INSHAALLAH is ko is gandi hakomat say bachanay k leye log awaz zaror buland karain gay INSHALLAH.
@Hina
With your holier than thou attitude you stand guilty of the same. Once and for all, STOP this nonsense of blame, condemnation and hatred.