LAHORE – The lawyers’ community condemned Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer’s assassination in strong words and expressed deep shock over increasing intolerance and religious extremism in society. People’s Lawyers Forum (PLF) Punjab strongly condemned the unfortunate assassination of Taseer and termed it a cowardly act by enemies of Pakistan and democracy.
PLF Senior Vice President Malik Nasir Awan and Additional General Secretary Rana Sufyan Arshad said that Taseer was a great leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) who became another victim of rising religious extremism. Every Pakistani is shocked and extremely saddened by his assassination, the PLF leaders said.
They said that those people who killed Taseer wanted to destabilise Pakistan and democracy but the PPP would not let them succeed in their evil designs. The PLF leaders also prayed for eternal rest of Taseer’s soul and demanded the federal government to make the killers a horrible example for others. Association of Pakistani Lawyers (APL) in UK also expressed deep sorrow over Taseer’s killing. APL Chairman Barrister Amjad Malik said that people may differ with his politics, statements and ideas, in particular with his pro-active comments on blasphemy laws in Pakistan, but the way he has been killed is unlawful, unnecessary and uncalled for and it is a fatal blow to smooth running of political business in Pakistan.
This is a wrong message to the public and tolerance must be preached at this juncture as arguments are best won through dialogue and not through bullets, he said. “We need to bridge the gap between Islam and West not to widen it further,” he said. Barrister Malik demanded that those people involved in the assassination must be brought to justice and prayed to God to shower his mercy on the departed soul and grant courage and fortitude to his family to bear this loss. He said that the APL conveys its condolence to the PPP leadership over loss of one of their key members.
LHCBA president: Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) President Mian Abdul Qadoos while condemning Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer’s assassination termed the incident an eye-opener for a civilised society. Judicial Activism Pakistan Chairman Muhammad Azhar Siddique said that the country is passing through a tough time and we have to deal with it as a prudent nation. He said that we have to wait for the investigation result of this tragic incident.
remain closed: The Lahore High Court (LHC), its regional benches, district and sessions courts and civil courts all over Punjab will remain closed today (Wednesday) as part of a national mourning on Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer’s assassination, LHC Registrar Abdul Sattar Asghar said on Tuesday. The LHC registrar condemned the governor’s assassination on behalf of the LHC.
