funeral in Lahore today carried out under heavy security
shot dead in a crowded street in Islamabad
helicopter after the ceremony at the Governor's House, in Lahore
Friday, January 7, 2011
funeral in Lahore today carried out under heavy security
shot dead in a crowded street in Islamabad
helicopter after the ceremony at the Governor's House, in Lahore
Federal agencies probing Taseer murder: Sanaullah
Talking to media in Lahore, Rana Sanaullah said that Salman Taseer was not a religious man and his views and steps over the Aasia Bibi case were politically motivated.
Govt mulls over three names for Punjab governor
President Asif Ali Zardari has immediately summoned the Federal Minister of Law Babar Awan in Karachi. According to sources, PPP has agreed over the new governor of Punjab.
President Zardari has summoned Babar Awan for final consultations over the matter.
According to party circles, the law minister has been most suitable for the top slot in Punjab.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Taseer's murder case hearing today
ISLAMABAD: The assassin of Punjab governor Salman Taseer was produced before an anti-terrorism court on Thursday.
Hundreds of policemen were deployed in the court premises before production of accused Mumtaz Qadri.
Salman Taseer was assassinated by his guard near his residence in Islamabad on Tuesday.
The Rasm-e-Qul of slain Punjab governor will be held today.
Taseer's assassin produced in court
ISLAMABAD: Punjab Governor Salman Taseer’s killer Mumtaz Qadri was produced in an Anti-Terrorist Court (ATC) on Thursday.
The joint investigation team presented Qadri before the court under strict security.
Due to security risks, Rawalpindi’s ATC was shifted to Islamabad for Thursday’s proceeding regarding assassination of Salman Taseer. The Chief Commissioner of Islamabad notified shifting of the court to Islamabad.
Chaos over Qadris appearance in court
Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, who was assigned to Salman Taseer's security detail and confessed to the killing, was charged and ordered to appear before an anti-terror court in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Thursday.
But as a growing crowd of Islamist lawyers and madrassa students descended on the building in support of Qadri, authorities instead drove him to a makeshift court hastily set up in heavily protected building in Islamabad.
But the crowd in Rawalpindi set up a cordon in protest, preventing the judge from leaving for Islamabad, lawyers and an AFP reporter said.
"We requested the judge that legally he cannot go to Islamabad to hear the accused and he accepted our request," lawyer Malik Waheed Anjum told reporters.
"The judge ordered Islamabad police to present the accused in his court in Rawalpindi," he added.
More than seven hours after journalists first gathered at the Rawalpindi court for the expected hearing, Qadri finally arrived and was feted with rose petals by supporters for the second day running.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Salman Taseer assassinated by own guard
Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, an Elite Force man in his security team opened burst on Taseer’s when he was stepping out of his car at Kohistar Market in sector F6 of the capital, just a short distance from where Taseer kept a home.
The governor was immediately rushed to Polyclinic hospital in serious condition, but succumbed to injuries. Medics said he received nine bullets, four in neck, three in chest and two in abdomen.
"The governor fell down and the man who fired at him threw down his gun and raised both hands," said a witness, Ali Imran.
The shooting left blood stains on a parking area on the edge of the Kohsar shopping center, which is popular among foreigners in Islamabad.
Taseer was shot down because of his high-profile opposition to the blasphemy laws, said Interior Minister Rehman Malik.
The governor had addressed a press conference with Aasia Bibi, a Christen woman convicted of blasphemy, and assured her of full support for presidential pardon.
Religious groups have been angry over government plans to change or scrap the law.
Taseer was one of the most moderate political voices in the main ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP). Also, he was outspoken against the Taliban and other militants.
The assassin was a member of Taseer's own security team, who confessed that he killed the governor himself because he had called the blasphemy law a black law," Malik said. Qadri confessed his crime and surrendered his gun to police after the attack, he said.
Taseer’s Life
Taseer was a leading moderate voice in the PPP, which is facing a major political crisis these days.
Taseer made his money as a chartered accountant, setting up consultancy firms and a brokerage house, and with investments in telecommunications, the media, insurance and real estate before going into politics.
He served as minister for industry and production under former military ruler Pervez Musharraf from 2007 to 2008.
He was a long-time member of the Punjab provincial assembly and appointed governor by the PPP-led coalition government in 2008.
Political Turmoil
The killing came as Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani tried to muster support for the government after a key coalition partner, MQM, quit.
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif has given the government a three-day deadline to accept a list of demands to avert its collapse.
Offering a reprieve, he said PML-N would not force a no-confidence vote in the government.
Security stepped up in Lahore on Taseer's burial
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LAHORE: Funeral prayers of Punjab governor Salman Taseer will be offered at Governor House Lahore this noon.
Taseer, who was shot dead by a guard in Islamabad on Tuesday, will be buried at Cavalary Graveyard.
Security has been stepped up and over 1000 security men have been deployed in Lahore.
The dead body of Salman Taseer, has been airlifted to Lahore and his funeral prayers will be offered after Zohar prayers today. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and top political officials of the country will attend the funeral.
The dead body of the assassinated governor of Punjab was taken to his residence in Lahore, later the remains shifted to Governor House in Lahore.
Earlier, the dead body of the governor of Punjab, after post mortem at PIMS hospital in Islamabad, was airlifted to Lahore through C-130 airplane. Federal ministers Babar Awan, Rehman Malik and Qamar Zaman Kaira reached Lahore with the body. The dead body was received at airport by Salman Taseer's son Hassan Shahzad, Chief Minister of Sindh Sayed Qaim Ali Shah and Fariyal Talpur.
Former RPO declared Mumtaz Qadri high risk
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LAHORE: Former police chief of Rawalpindi had declared Mumtaz Qadri and other four policemen high risk for the VIP duty, sources said.
Former RPO Rawalpindi Nasir Khan Durrani in an official memo warned that Malik Mumtaz Qadri and other four security men should not be posted in VIP security detail, sources said.
The official had written the note in view of the past record of the five security men, sources said, but no attention was given on the warning while posting the man in security detail of Punjab governor Salman Taseer.
Taseer's remains shifted to Governor House
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LAHORE: The dead body of Punjab governor Salman Taseer has been shifted from his Cavalary Ground residence to Governor House in Lahore.
Taseer, who was shot dead by a guard in Islamabad on Tuesday, will be buried at Cavalary Graveyard.
A suspected person was arrested while trying to enter in Governor House.
The remains of Governor Taseer transferred to Governor House from Simla Hill gate through Rescue 1122 ambulance under strict security.
All roads leading to Governor House have been sealed. People allowed entry in Governor House to attend the funeral prayers.
A delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement has also reached Governor House to attend the funeral.
Police have arrested a suspected person while entering in Governor House.
Walk-through gates have been installed at the entry gate of Governor House.
Around 1000 security men have been deployed for security.
The funeral prayers will be offered after Zohar prayers today. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and top political officials of the country will attend the funeral.
Funeral prayers of Salman Taseer offered
Taseer, who was shot dead by a guard in Islamabad on Tuesday, will be buried at Cavalary Graveyard.
Allama Afzal Chishti led the funeral prayers of governor of Punjab Salman Taseer.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, federal ministers Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Rehman Malik, Chairman Senate Farooque H. Naik, MQM leaders Babar Ghouri, Hyder Abbas Rizvi, Raza Haroon, ANP leader Ghulam Ahmed Bilour and large number of Peoples Party leaders, party activistsattended the funeral prayers of slain governor Salman Taseer.
Earlier, the remains of Governor Taseer transferred to Governor House in an ambulance of Rescue 1122 under strict security.
All roads leading to Governor House were sealed. Walk-through gates were installed at the entry gate of Governor House.
Around 1000 security men have been deployed for security.
Mumtaz Qadri charged with Taseer murder
Qadri, who was part of Taseer's security detail, was presented before a magistrate in IslamabadAmid tight security and will appear in an anti-terrorism court on Thursday, lawyer Mohammad Ashraf Gujjar said.
The suspect was making his first appearance in an Islamabad court where a judge remanded him in custody. Lawyers who were not involved in the case threw handfuls of rose petals over his head and a rowdy crowd slapped him on the back and kissed his cheek as he was escorted inside.
Magistrate Kamran Bisharat Mufi granted his physical remand to police for only one day.
"Police have charged Qadri with murder, terrorism and violence," another lawyer, Farooq Sulehria said.
An FIR has been registered at Kohisar police station of Islamabad on the complain of Taseer's son.
Police investigations are focusing on whether the bearded police commando acted alone or as part of a wider conspiracy.
A lawyer from Islamabad's high court, Farooq Sulehria, told AFP that the assassin would find no shortage of support.
"We will provide all legal support to Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, we will fight for him in the court," said Sulehria.
Gilani condoles with Taseers family
LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani met family members of Salman Taseer at the Governor’s House and offered condolence on the tragic demise of the late PPP leader before the funeral prayers here Wednesday.
Expressing deep sorrow and grief with the widow Amna Taseer, bereaved sons Shahbaz and Sheharyar and daughters,Prime Minister Gilani described Taseer’s assassination a “great tragedy” and irreparable loss to the party.
Expressing deep sorrow and grief with the widow Amna Taseer, bereaved sons Shahbaz and Sheharyar and daughters,Prime Minister Gilani described Taseer’s assassination a “great tragedy” and irreparable loss to the party.
The Premier said that the services of late Salman Taseer for the renaissance of PPP in Punjab and empowerment of the oppressed strata of society would be remembered in the annals of history.
Gilani prayed to Allah Almighty to grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with equanimity.
Federal,provincial ministers and PPP leaders were also present in the sorrow-laden Darbar Hall of the Governor’s House. -- (APP)
Taseer was an active member of PPP
Salman Taseer belonged to a respectable and intellectual family and he had obtained a degree in Chartered Accountancy from London. He was the son of Muhammad Din Taseer, popularly known as M.D. Taseer, who was the first Ph.D. degree holder in the Sub-continent.
Taseer started his political career as a student, and became member of Pakistan Peoples Party soon after the party was founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on November 30, 1967.
Salman remained as PPP Information Secretary and won the MPA seat in Punjab on Pakistan People’s Party ticket in 1988 and remained as Deputy Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly.
Taseer also served as a minister for commerce and industry in the caretaker cabinet of former Prime Minister Muhammad Mian Soomro in 2007-08. He took active part in the Movement for Restoration of Democracy (MRD) in 1985.
He was also the chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the First Capital Securities Corporation and Worldcall Group.
In the 1988 general elections, Taseer became a member of the Punjab Assembly from Lahore while in the 1990, 1993 and 1997 general elections. He contested for a seat in the National Assembly.
In 2007, he was appointed the interim Federal Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives in the caretaker administration of Muhammad Mian Soomro.
Taseer set up several chartered accountancy and management consultancy firms early in his career. In 1994 he established the First Capital Securities Corporation (FCSC).
He founded the Worldcall group with a payphone network in 1995. Taseer also owns an English news channel in Pakistan and the first kids channel.
He was the close aide of Benazir Bhutto and companion of Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Yousaf Salahuddin. He was also a class-fellow of Mian Nawaz Sharif in Saint Anthony School Lahore.
Taseer was married to Aamna Taseer and the two resided in Lahore. He is survived by his widow and six children: Maryam, Shehryar, Shahbaz, Sara, Sanam and Shehr Bano.
Taseer murder: PPP announces 2-week mourning
The Pakistan Peoples Party has announced two-week mourning on the assassination of Punjab Governor, while Prime Minister Gilani has announced a three-day state mourning on the incident.
Gilani has cancelled all his engagements, including the briefing to parliamentary leaders of different political parties on petroleum prices, because of the tragic assassination.
National flag will remain at half mast. The Prime Minister has also ordered state funeral for late Salman Taseer. He will be laid to rest with full state honour.
The Prime Minister ordered for a high level inquiry into the incident and asked for submission of a report at the earliest. The culprits involved in the assassination, he said, would be brought to justice.
The Prime Minister talked to President Asif Ali Zardari by telephone and apprised him of the sad incident. He also contacted the family members of Salman Taseer by telephone and expressed his heartfelt condolences.
Zardari Grieves
President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the assassination of Governor Punjab Salman Taseer and directed the Interior Minister Rahman Malik to personally supervise the investigation and report to him urgently.
The President was informed about the tragic assassination during a meeting with the Members of the Provincial Assembly of the PPP at Bilawal House here.
The Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah will proceed to Lahore to participate in the funeral on behalf of the President.
Describing the crime as ‘most ghastly’, the President said that no words were strong enough to condemn it. The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be punished, he said.
Paying tributes to the late Governor, the President said that Salman Taseer was endowed with great courage and energy who employed these qualities in the service of the province and the country. He faced the vicissitudes of life with composure, resilience and courage.
The President also prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in peace and give courage to members of the bereaved family to bear the loss with fortitude.
Team to probe conspiracy behind Taseer murder: Malik
LAHORE: Pakistani security agencies has started a high level of investigation about the assassination of Punjab governor Salman Taseer who was killed by one of his security guards on Tuesday afternoon in capital Islamabad.
Federal Interior Minister Reman Malik talking to media told that he had formed a three member investigation committee consisting of higher level police officer.
"Investigation team will check whether it was his (killer) individual planning and attempt or there was any conspiracy behind this brutal act," said Malik.
Police presented the killer before the judicial magistrate in his court in Islamabad and requested for the five days judicial remand. But magistrate Naeem Shaukat denied the said remand and gave only one day remand ordering to present the murderer in the anti-terrorism court which is bound for quick prosecution.
Governor Taseer, 64 years old, was assassinated by his bodyguard Mumtaz Qadari, aged 26, with AK-47 gun when he was about to sit in his car after his lunch with a friend at a market in the downtown area of Islamabad.
Qadari fired whole magazine having 30 bullets at governor out which 27 rounds hit the deceased's head, face, neck, chest and belly, medical postmortem report confirmed it.
Taseer assassination a political murder, says Awan
LAHORE: Federal Minister of Law Babar Awan Wednesday termed Governor Punjab’s assassination as political murder, demanding a broaden investigation to reveal the conspiracy behind it.
"We cannot say that this incident occurred only due to a security collapse, there are many other points and hints present to be interrogated," said Awan while talking to newsmen after the burial of the governor.
Pakistani security agencies have started a high level of investigation about the assassination of Salman Taseer who was killed by one of his security guards on Tuesday afternoon in capital Islamabad.
According to officials, police has arrested 36 policemen of Elite force and special police branch who were responsible for the security arrangements of Taseer.
High level probe started into governor murder
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security agencies has started a high level of investigation about the assassination of Punjab governor Salman Taseer who was killed by one of his security guards on Tuesday afternoon in capital Islamabad.
According to officials, police has arrested 36 policemen of Elite force and special police branch who were responsible for the security arrangements of Taseer.
Just after the incident police raided the official room and house of the killer, confiscated the luggage under his use and also arrested his nine close relatives.
Shaharyar, son of the governor, registered a case against the murder at the Kohsar Police station in Islamabad against the killer.
Pakistan's federal minister Reman Malik talking to media told that he had formed a three member investigation committee consisting of higher level police officer.
"Investigation team will check whether it was his (killer) individual planning and attempt or there was any conspiracy behind this brutal act," said Malik.
Police presented the killer before the judicial magistrate in his court in Islamabad and requested for the five days judicial remand. But magistrate Naeem Shaukat denied the said remand and gave only one day remand ordering to present the murderer in the anti-terrorism court which is bound for quick prosecution.
Governor Taseer, 64 years old, was assassinated by his bodyguard Mumtaz Qadari, aged 26, with AK-47 gun when he was about to sit in his car after his lunch with a friend at a market in the downtown area of Islamabad.
Qadari fired whole magazine having 30 bullets at governor out which 27 rounds hit the deceased's head, face, neck, chest and belly, medical postmortem report confirmed it.
Following the attack, the assassin laid down his gun and surrendered himself to the rest of the policemen escorting the governor.
The assassin, a commando of Elite Force, a section of Punjab police, Qadari gave a written statement to the police claiming that he took this step because the governor was working against the blasphemy law of Islam which barred to say anything against the Muslims' Prophet Muhammad.
A local Urdu TV reported that during the investigation Qadari told that he had already talked to his colleagues about his plan to kill the governor requesting them not to open fire at him when he would kill the governor.
Quoting the police sources a Urdu daily said that the governor did not inform Islamabad police about his secret visit to the capital while murderer Qadari requested his duty officer to send him along with the governor's security staff.
According to police department staff reports, Qadari was one of those 11 police commandos who were declared unfit for the security of high officials. Police has arrested the official who appointed him on the duty in spite of his unsatisfactory departmental report.
The real motive behind the murder is yet to be investigated as the incident came at a time when the current government of Pakistan people's party (PPP) was facing severe political crises after it has lost the simple majority in the seats of the lower house.
Pakistan's federal minister of law Babar Awan talking to media on Wednesday afternoon termed the incident as "political murder" and demanded a broaden investigation to reveal the conspiracy behind it.
"We cannot say that this incident occurred only due to a security collapse, there are many other points and hints present to be interrogated," said Awan, after the burial of the governor.
A lot of pressure is mounting on the government to investigate the matter speedily. Following the murder a country wide protests started by the PPP workers against the incident.
Taseer is the second highest ranking member of PPP who was assassinated in the last decade in the country after former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who was assassinated during an election rally in Pakistan in Dec. 2007.
Taseer was laid to rest with full State honor in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore on Wednesday as the country is on mourning for three days. Several PPP leaders including Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, other politicians and party workers participated in the prayers.
Latest media reports said that after some basic interrogation police released six waiters of the restaurant where governor took his lunch.
Pak Muslim scholars praise killer of Taseer
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LAHORE: Lawyers showered rose petals over the suspected killer of Punjab governor when he arrived at court Wednesday and an influential Muslim scholars group praised the assassination of the outspoken opponent of blasphemy laws.
More than 500 clerics and scholars from the group Jamat Ahle Sunnat said no one should pray or express regret for the killing of Punjab province Gov. Salman Taseer. The group represents Pakistan's majority Barelvi sect.
"The supporter is as equally guilty as one who committed blasphemy," the group warned in a statement, adding politicians, the media and others should learn "a lesson from the exemplary death."
Jamat leader, Maulana Shah Turabul Haq Qadri, paid "glorious tribute to the murderer ... for his courage, bravery and religious honor and integrity."
The suspected killer, 26-year-old Mumtaz Qadri, told interrogators Tuesday that he shot the moderate Taseer multiple times because of the politician's outspoken opposition to the harsh blasphemy laws.
Qadri is a name commonly adopted by devout men of the Barelvi sect.
The suspect was making his first appearance in an Islamabad court where a judge remanded him in custody. Lawyers who were not involved in the case threw handfuls of rose petals over his head and a rowdy crowd slapped him on the back and kissed his cheek as he was escorted inside.
Qadri is accused of spraying Taseer in the back with more than 20 rounds of automatic gunfire in an Islamabad street on Tuesday. The 26-year-old commando had been assigned to protect his victim. He has yet to be charged with a crime.
Taseer was a close ally of U.S.-backed President Asif Ali Zardari and the highest-profile political figure to be assassinated since former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was slain three years ago. His death was a reminder of the growing danger to those in Pakistan who dare to challenge Islamist extremists.
Salman Taseer laid to rest with state honour
After funeral prayers the remains of Salman Taseer covered in national flag buried at Cavalry Graveyard.
Earlier, funeral prayers offered at the lawn of Governor House in Lahore attended by Prime Minister Gilani, ministers and party workers and leaders.
Taseer was shot dead by a guard in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, federal ministers Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Rehman Malik, Chairman SenateFarooque H. Naik, MQM leaders Babar Ghouri, Hyder Abbas Rizvi, Raza Haroon, ANP leader Ghulam Ahmed Bilour andlarge number of Peoples Party leaders and party activists attended the funeral prayers of Salman Taseer.
Earlier, the remains of Governor Taseer transferred to Governor House in an ambulance of Rescue 1122 under strict security.
All roads leading to Governor House were sealed. Walk-through gates were installed at the entry gate of the Governor House.
Around 1000 security men were deployed for security.
Taseer second assassinated governor of PPP
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder PPP Chairma, is the first in row, who accepted gallows but did not bow to the dictatotr, while his daughter Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was also assassinated by a suicide bomber.
Salman Taseer is the second governor of PPP, who has been assassinated. Earlier, Hayat Sherpao, governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) (then NWFP) was also killed in a bomb attack. Hayat Sherpao took oath as 15th governor of the province on December 25, 1971 shortly after Bhutto became President of the country.
He was 34, youngest person in the history of Pakistan, holding the office of a governor. He held the office till April 30, 1972.He was assassinated on February 16, 1975, in a bomb explosion at the campus of University of Peshawar.
Sherpao’s assassination was also considered a national tragedy.Punjab Governor Salman Taseer was allegedly killed by a gunman of Punjab Elite Force Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri on Tuesday.
Taseer started his political career as a PPP member in late 1960s, when he was a student. He was a part of the movement for Bhutto’s freedom, opposed his arrest and death sentence. He wrote a political biography on Bhutto titled “Bhutto: A political biography (1980)”.
In 1988 general elections, Taseer became a member of the Punjab Assembly from Lahore. In the 1990, 1993 and 1997 general elections, he contested as an MNA but lost.
In 2007, he was appointed an interim Federal Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives.On May 15, 2008, Taseer was appointed Governor of Punjab by the PPP-led coalition government.On January 4, 2011 he was murdered in Islamabad by a guard assigned to him for security by the Punjab Government. -- (APP)
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