Islamabad, January 04: In Pakistan’s tryst with terrorism, Governor of Pakistan’s largest province Punjab, was killed by his own security guard near a coffee shop in Koshar Market in the heart of Islamabad on Tuesday. Taseer was a close aide of Pakistani President Asif Zardari.
Salman Taseer succumbed to his injuries in the hospital where he was rushed to, Pakistan Television quoted officials as saying.
One of the eyewitnesses said Taseer was sitting in his car when one of his security guards open fired on him. The guard who is believed to have shot him is named Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri. He has surrendered before the police and confessed to his crime.
“I killed the Governor because he termed the blasphemy law as Kala Kanoon(black law),” Malik Mumtaz said to the police.
The confession is in line with theory that the assassination came due to Taseer’s liberal outlook. It is believed that Salman Taseer had indeed termed blasphemy laws as a black law, thereby offending hardliners.
He had also assured his support to a minority religion woman who had been arrested under the draconian blasphemy law.
Reacting to the news, Pakistan Interior Minter Rehman Malik said, “We have lost a good administrator.”
Salman Taseer’s friend Dr Sharfuddin added, “These are same people who had killed Benazir Bhutto and are trying to turn Pakistan into Afghanistan. And these are terrorists in the garb of Islamists.”
The entire area has been cordoned off. The entire security convoy has been detained.
The police has taken note of the eyewitness’ account.
It may noted that Salman Taseer is the former husband of prominent Indian journalist Tavleen Singh and father of author Aatish Taseer.
–Agencies