Escort kills governor Taseer; Pakistan in trouble

Islamabad, Jan 5: The razor-tongued governor of Pakistan, Salman Taseer was shot dead by his own escort on Tuesday Jan 4. The brutal assassination of Taseer increased the trouble for the ruling government of the country which had already been passing through a massive political crisis.

Taseer, who was known for his firm support to women and religious minorities, was killed by his bodyguard, 26-year-old Mumtaz Qadri who created a Facebook page and page visitors called him a "hero" and praised his "awesome job."

The killer cited a controversial anti-blasphemy law in justifying his actions.

Taseer, who was also reportedly married to an Indian journalist Tavleen Singh and had a son Aatish Taseer, supported a Christian woman, who was sentenced to death. The woman allegedly criticised the Muslim prophet Muhammad.

Taseer's move enraged many and leading religious groups denounced him as an "apostate" and burn his effigies during a nationwide strike recently.

"This shows how the religious extremists want to impose their agenda to terrorize the society. This cowardly act cannot stop us who are raising our voice (against anti-blasphemy law)," claimed Shahbaz Bhatti, a proponent of changing the laws.

Tasser's death increased the trouble of Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani who had been struggled to save his government after a key coalition partner joined the opposition, reducing parliamentary majority of the ruling Peoples Party.

Salmam Taseer's murder and the political crisis multiplied the miseries of the government of the country and the situation seemed to be a big challenge for the minority government.

Major unrest over the Taseer's killing has not been reported so far, but authorities informed that they issued high alert in all around the country.

OneIndia News