ISLAMABAD – President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday strongly condemned the assassination of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer, canceling all their engagements and announcing a three-day mourning.
The president directed Interior Minister Rehman Malik to personally supervise the investigation and submit a report at the earliest, while Gilani announced a three-day mourning and ordered the national flag to remain at half mast for three days.
The president was informed about the tragic assassination during a meeting of PPP MPAs of four districts at Bilawal House, Karachi, after which all scheduled meetings were postponed. Zardari also directed the party leadership to conduct functions in connection with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s 83rd birth anniversary on Wednesday humbly, and limit the ceremonies to the holding of seminars at the district, divisional and provincial levels, without the usual fanfare and cake-cutting ceremonies.
Prayers for Bhutto and Taseer will also be held on Wednesday. The president asked Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and MNA Faryal Talpur to participate in the funeral of the late governor on his behalf. Prime Minister Gilani will also attend the funeral. Calling the assassination a “ghastly crime”, the president said no words were strong enough to condemn the murder.
“The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be punished and they will be punished,” Zardari said. Paying tribute to Salmaan Taseer, he said the slain PPP leader was endowed with great courage and energy and used his qualities for serving the province and the country. He faced the vicissitudes of life with composure, resilience and courage, the president said.
The prime minister also cancelled all his engagements, including the briefing to parliamentary leaders of various political parties on petroleum prices in wake of the tragic incident. Leaders of various political parties in parliament called on Gilani to express their condolences. Gilani also called Zardari and discussed the incident.
He also talked to the family of Salmaan Taseer and expressed his heartfelt condolences.
