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.
On one hand it does not matter who they make governor to replace Taseer, but the symbolism will be important to send the nation a message about what the government’s real reaction to his murder is?
More comments from the ATP Facebook Page:
– “Irshad e nabvi Sallhao Aleh Wasallam hy ” Tum mai say koi us wakt tak momin nhe ho sakta jab tak kay mai usay uskay Maa baap aur her cheez say barh ker naa hojaon”
Kia hum mai say koi tolerate ker sakta hy k uskay maa baap ki shaan mai ghustaakhi ki jaay,,koi hamaray samny ye keray tou what would be our reaction….if we cant tolerate any disrespect against our parents n beloved,how can we have soft corner for those who did it against our BELOVED PROPHET……for the kind information of Iftikhaar sahab n other people SALMAN TASEER considered Touheen Risalat Kanoon as a KAala KAnoon..what does it sence??koi Nabi KAreem ko kch kahen ap usky saath sympothy show kero n send them to foreign country..while for ur parents u can shoot the person,,Iftikar n sadaf open ur eyes and sirf dunyaa ki fika nhe akhirat ki bhe fikar kerain.thnx”
– “The Kaffar of Mecca regularily insul;ted the prophet but after fatah of Mecca he forgave them. Also I guess we all know the story of the woman who used to strew thorns in the prohpets(saw ) way when he went to prayer etc…. well what did our beloved Prophet do..? He missed her one day and went to visit her because she was sick. You people who claim to defend the prophet’s honour know nothing of him, he did not react in anger but specifically discouraged angery reactions. If we Muslims were REALLy to follow our beloved Prophet(saw) what a change that would be!In truth we follow illitrate preachers and our own Nafs.”
– “et me spread the rumour abt you that you said something disrespectful about prophet. Then let one mullah put a death money for your head. Then before you can explain that I lied about you let someone like qadri murder you. Then let these mullah’s order that noone says your jinaza to fulfill ishq-rasool. Please then come and support these heinous traditions. I hope and i wish this happens to you. may some talabanee mullah order a hitman to shoot you. may these laws that you are promoting bite you in yr ***.
By the way Zainab, if someone says something to my parents I am not gonna shoot them cause I am a civilized person. A barbarian would shoot someone on such things. Stop bringing these overly sentimental and criminal bukwaas about “parents ko galee daina”. In what kind of society this kind of behavior is ok. To kill someone if they offended you. This is called crime of “honor killing.” And why your blasphemy laws are applicable to non muslims
Should chrstians in USA start killing muslim cause we are doing blasphemy by not calling jesus son of god and saying muhammad is the prophet. Kis qadar criminal mentality hai tum logoon ki. lanaat ho tum per.”
– “hud ko civilized kehnay waalyu people when come across this situation abt u n ur family then one can see how civilized u bloody people are..,,,,,,and for ur kind information Mr Black castle it was not a rumour,,he admitted on TV k yes Risalat Rasool is a Kalaa KAnoon…. , only thing is Ur actionz, ur words, ur life are not according to Beloved Nabi kareem.thats y u can not feel any attachment to Him….U r equal to Kaffar who support Kafir and do not understand the sensitivity of this issue,..Dosro ko Lanti kehny waalo pai ye laanat khd hi ja perti hy,,n aokay comment say one can guess How Much CIVILIZED are u….”
– “v have our religious sentiments n deres no reason any 1 violates it..!!!v dnt disrespect any religion den y our religion is made exception..!!!Respected Pope Benedict could notice this damn discrimination n gave his opinion y not on Dr Afia????y not on da US soldiers who have used our holy book as toilet tissue???
datx dual standards…!!!first we were fightin against religious extremists n now da worst danger..!!these fascists ov liberty like salman taseer..!!!if ur a secular dnt thrust it on other’s opinions..!!!
what so ever dat law is its a part ov da constitution n taseer humiliated our constitution which simply means he was a rebel 2 it..!!!
n i think u kno wel whats da punishment in this case..!!!”
– “I live in the States and am a practicing muslim, I pray , I fast, and I fear Allah. Should the Americans take revenge on my family for 9/11 ?
We have to get away from concepts of revenge and collective guilt, eg Mr Salman Taseer imurder is not payback for the variouse legitimate complaints Pakistan and Muslims have against the West.
When you read the Qura’an in translation , it constantly asks us believers to use our reason and work towards Adle.The concept of Eye for an eye is biblical NOT Qura’anic, hence the constant reminder from Allah to know our limits.Pope Benedict , or any of these christian leaders are not our standard, our standards should be our Prophet who succeeded at yet forgave, like Salah Uddin Ayubi who Conquerd Jerusalem and was merciful. No muslim should send Laanat on any one, it means to be away from Allah’s mercy, a punishmen unbearable.”
– “I will not adresee you anymore cause it is clear as a day what you IQ is. Low IQ is combined wirh wrong upbringing. Your parents obviously did a horrble job giving you a civic sense. well I imagine it is hard giving something to kids when parents dont have it themselves. several generations of jaheleen.
please dont flatter yourslef. Dont get carried away by my name. I am a hardcore punjabi and a muslmaan and live in Pakistan. No american has a time to address you personally. So keep your inferiority complex in check. Also Aafia siddiquie was a criminal who selfishly risked her children as well. What was she doing in Afghanistan. Did her boyfriend live there? She was playing with fire and she got what she deserved.
Your constitution is flawed the amendements made in constitution in 1973 was a big mistake as the then ruling PPP willingly gave Pakistan in ransom to moulvee mafia. From this mistake there is no turning bag. The large majority of Pakistan which is sunni has from that time onwards has been on a road to become a radical wahabee/salafi caricature of saudiararabia and egypt. The nations who are not willing to change will disappear from the face of this earth as promised in quran. It is a civil war in pakistan between wahabee extremism and moderate muslims. If wahabism wins Pakistan will be a colony and a sister state of Afghanistan.
The molvee mafia in Pakistan is becoming bolder every day. The open threats that extremist people are giving on ATP forum is a rude awakening to moderates in Pakistan that how far the disease has spread.
In Bosnia war, the orthodox church used past religious myths as an excuse to unleash barbaric mountain dwelling serbs on bosnians and croatians and results was a genocide worse than a holocaust. History is repeating it self in Pakistan. Moulvee mafia is unleashing ignorant punjabi paindoos and pukhtooni crackpots and karachi crazies on masses to brutally revenge moderates. These moulvess are openly misquoting verses of quran on national TV. No lazy pakistani goes and open to read the quran. If they do so, they will be shocked to see how these moulvess are lying about blasphemy laws. Like orthodox serbian church, moulvee mafia is blood thirsty for power. It is ready to grab power even if they have to trample over the grave of my dear prophet. Go read your history, the umaayid ancestors of these moulvess have in the past decerated musjid-e nabvi and khana kaba by trampling it under their horses and making their horses defecate in holy places.
Pakistan is under seige and hostage of moulvee mafia. This mafia has infilterated higher ranks of army as well as secrtet services and is totally out of control of ruling government. PML-N is an open supportre of terrorists as well.”
– “what a lecture you gave man I proud of you girl like zanib have lizard brain I hope you understand what I’m saying. Nation like Pakistan will never ever understand you & me it’s all about lack of education that destroyed since 1978 since then the whole generation has been change so Ben what ever you like to say or write them those idiot never agree with you those idiot are generation of brain wash the only things they know Allah this Allah will Allah take care but no goddam ACTION. So please don’t waste time.
Thanks. Long live Pakistan”
– “every religion either christians, hindu, sikh, budhasim etc have laws for their religion, muslims never disrespect their laws…u r right we do not do this action n expect the same…then how can we allow every one to come n disrespect our religion n our beloved Perophet….
Ben u r simply sick who is regarding other as suffering from Inferiority Complex n poor up bringing….i also dnt want to talk vd such a mentally sick person who have such a fragile self esteem and “I am high, I am high” like attitude as u have….there is a freedom of speech untill n unless it does not clash vd our religious values ,,so kindly stay in ur limits while u dnt have the right n being a civilized person u shud’nt have..”
Lots of names coming up for Governor to replace Salman Taseer.
My vote would be for Aitizaz Ahsan, but I doubt if Zardari will do that.
Taseer was an enthusiastic user of Twitter. His comments, mostly related to the prevailing politics, were blunt, often humorous and sometime poetic. His last tweet, 8 hours before his death, is reported to be a couplet by Shakeel Badayuni:
میرا عزم اتنا بلند ہے کہ پراے شعلوں سے ڈر نہیں
مجھے خوف آتش گل سے ہے، یہ کہیں چمن کو جلا نہ دے
It is unfortunate to see some people defending a murderer. The Prophet I learned about was an embodiment of mercy and kindness. What has been done and is being done in his name is shameful. What do the self-appointed Ashiqan-e-Rasool say about the trust that was betrayed by this murderer Qadri? Wasn’t he trusted with protecting the life of his victim? Is that how a follower of the Prophet (known as Amin) honors the trust placed in him?