The late Salmaan Taseer's daughter led a protest rally and demanded of the government to convict Malik Mumtaz Qadri, murderer of Governor Punjab Salman Taseer. The rally was organised by different NGOs to protest against the killing of Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer on Saturday.
A number of NGOs including representatives of the Human Resource Commission of Pakistan, South Asia Partnership Pakistan, Aurat Foundation, Working Women Help Line, Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party, Bulley Shah Foundation, Jazba Foundation and others participated in the protest. Senator Abida Hussain-PPP, Ex-Dean NCA, Nazish Attaullah Tahira Syed, Salem Hashmi, and Chief Executive Officer Clay Works were also present on the occasion.
The participants of the rally said the current debate on the blasphemy laws has become skewed, distorted and governed by fear. They lamented that a man's life was taken for merely speaking out against the injustice being committed in the name of this law. The brutal killing is being celebrated widely by a section of society, they lamented.
The Governor Taseer's murder and subsequent reaction demonstrates that the debate on the blasphemy laws has been hijacked by the religious section and thus threaten everyone who dares to engage in it with mortal danger, the speakers said. They were of the view that living in a democratic state requires holding a debate on this law or any law to be passed by a parliament in a safe and secure atmosphere, they added.
Civil Society representatives expressed their concern and strongly criticised the lawyers showering Qadri with rose petals on his arrival in court, and the Islamabad Bar Council's offering him free legal representation. One of the participants, a lawyer, while talking to Business Recorder said they had complete right to discuss any law and did not want to live in a society where fear prevailed. He urged the government to create awareness among the masses about the real issue. He further asked the government to ensure that killer should face a full but fair trail, in order to eliminate the culture of impurity that accompanies crimes committed in the name of religion.
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