While grounds are available to sustain the claims of security lapses that helped a fanatic target former governor Salmaan Taseer, there is a need to avoid politicising the issue. The killer was posted out of the Special Branch as a security threat on account of his extremist views and one officer had recommended not deputing him for the VIPs security. Why was the man appointed on the escort duty of the governor, who had received life threats from religious extremists? Why did the personnel of the Elite Force not try to overpower Qadri when he opened fire reportedly in three phases? All this happening when there was no love lost between the governor and the PML(N) naturally raises questions. That none among the PML(N) leadership or important government officials was there to receive the dead body at the airport, nor was present at the governors funeral and burial, was unfortunate.
The federal government has appointed a judicial commission to conduct a thorough probe. As courts are free, everyone expects a verdict based on the facts of the case. The Punjab government must ensure that none impedes the course of justice. The greatest responsibility lies with the PPP as it leads the federal coalition. It should wait for the judicial commissions report while avoiding the blame game.
The public is mostly extremely sensitive about the sanctity of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Emotions are at a high but equally important is to maintain sanity. Religious extremists who were being gradually isolated are trying to capitalize on the issue of blasphemy. The space won by civil society after years of struggle is in danger of being reduced. The murder of the governor by a fanatic elite security guard could be used by some in the West. This was actually reflected in the Foreign Policy magazine on Tuesday maintaining that Pakistans nuclear assets could end up in the hands of the extremists. A credible and transparent probe followed by a thorough scrutiny of security bodies will be fitting reply to them.
