The assassination

The assassination of Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer by one of his security guards ostensibly for his views on the Blasphemy Law in Pakistan has opened up several debates. The Governor never violated the law but he did criticise it and sought its amendment even as he championed the cause of a Christian woman sentenced to death under that law. This was enough to trigger the assassins rage against him just as talk of considering a possible amendment to the law led to country wide protests that shut down all activity a few days before the assassination. The media gave prolonged and detailed coverage to the protests just as it is focusing on all aspects of the assassination.

Even as the magnitude of the tragedy sinks into public perception there are several raging discussions that will inevitably influence perceptions. There is the view voiced by government ministers that the assassination was politically motivated and is a serious security lapse because it was a custodial killing meaning that it was carried out by those in whose custody the Governor was for security reasons. While an investigation is still in progress there are reports that others in the security detail were aware of the killers intentions and did nothing till he completed the act and laid down his weapon. It is a fact that no retaliatory fire was directed at the killer. The media is also reporting serious flaws in the screening process for personnel on sensitive security duties implying a lapse in the process that brought the killer at close range to the Governor with a loaded weapon.

In response to this there is the view by opposition leaders that that the assassination was the act of a lone gunman enraged by the Governors views on the Blasphemy Law and motivated by extreme religious views. So far there is no explanation for the killers induction into the Elite Police Force and his being part of the Governors personal security detail considering the fact that the media is highlighting his religious inclinations and extreme views that apparently were not a secret. This brings into question the entire process of recruitment, training and screening of all forces responsible for security not just of people but installations as well as their penetration and subversion.

The killer has himself stated that he carried out the assassination as a deliberate act because of the Governors views on the Blasphemy Law and that others with him knew of his plan implying that they approved of it.

This, of course, is the best defense that he could have managed because his action has triggered a wave of support and sympathy for him from others with extremist views and this segment is by no means insignificant as media views of a court appearance, the opinions of clerics and the earlier street protests clearly indicate. This has opened up a debate, perhaps long overdue, on the direction in which society is headed and whether the liberal, tolerant and moderate segment is outnumbered heavily by those who are intolerant and rigidly extremist in their views.

Inevitably this assassination and the tacit support for it will seriously dampen the segment that voiced moderation because of the fear of reprisals. The country has reached a serious turning point in its evolution and this has wide ranging implications that need to be understood by the leadership.

The earlier idea that if the economy recovered all would fall into place needs to be seriously questioned because– its no longer just the economy, stupid as far as Pakistan is concerned. As a nuclear weapon state, we cannot project the image of such a serious societal divide in addition to crisis-level economic, political and internal security vulnerabilities. Almost as if orchestrated there is a Foreign Policy magazine survey that points the finger at Pakistan as the country whose nukes are most likely to fall into terrorist hands and raises the spectre of the consequences of another non state actor event like the Mumbai attack and other near-misses. This assassination has caused Pakistans already precarious international image to take a nosedive and laid it open to attacks from those who seek to undermine and destabilise it this tragedy will be compounded if the internal debate is not responsible and is not keyed to the national interest. There is a need to shift attention to the investigation report and wait for it before voicing opinions and comments.

The general perception is that this is no time for political turmoil, for political exploitation of situations, for street protests and rallies. There is an urge to see the government completing its term and elections as per schedule. There is also the demand for governance, for communication with the people to respond to their grievances, for a coming together of all institutions at the highest levels and above all austerity that is real and sets an example. This internal turnaround is now as important as steering the economy in the right direction. If a new structure is required or an existing one utilised to bring this about then that is what should take priority before it is too late and options no longer exist and a drift into uncharted waters begins.

The writer is a former Chief of Army Staff. He is now associated with Spearhead Research.