Aitzaz says not in Punjab Governor’s race

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LAHORE: Former president of Supreme Court Bar Association and Pakistan Peoples Party leader Aitzaz Ahsan on Thursday ruled out his candidature for the slot of Punjab Governor.

Talking to media after Qul of Salman Taseer at Governor House, he said the President, the Prime Minister and the party would decide about the new governor, adding more suitable personalities were available in the province for the slot and he was not in the race. To a question about the murder of Salman Taseer, he said that all investigation departments should jointly investigate the case and it should be transparent.
“The murder should not be termed in any other manner before the result of the investigations,” he added.
He said that element of violence was increasing in politics, which had started during the era of General Ziaul Haq.
He said that violence and suicide attacks on mosques, Imambarghas, churches and other worship places were growing, and expressed his apprehension that some elements wanted to destroy the state. “Some foreign agencies are destabilising the country through anti-state activities in Balochistan,” he added. He said that tolerance introduced by ‘Soofis and Aulia’ was recognition of this region which was now being eliminated. -Agencies

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Posted in: Aitzaz,Governor,murder,Pakistan,President,Prime Minister,Punjab,Punjab Governor,result,Salman Taseer,Supreme Court,violence

Zardari praises Taseer sacrifice, consoles family

Governor Punjab embraced martyrdom defending minorities

KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Shaheed Salman Taseer wrote with his blood a new chapter in the history of PPP’s continuing struggle for human rights, democracy and no-discrimination. He said this while talking to Mrs Salman Taseer on the eve of the soyem of the late Governor who was gunned down by his own security guard in Islamabad.

The President said that Shaheed Salman Taseer was an undaunted political leader and a true follower of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in treading their path to martyrdom.
He called a spade a spade and did not mince words in expressing what he believed to be true and right, the President said of Salman Taseer.

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Posted in: Ali,Begum Salman Taseer,Bhutto,defending,family,Governor,President,price,Salman Taseer,Shaheed Salman Taseer,The President,Zardari

US terms Taseer death a big loss

Pak must make efforts to root out extremism

WASHINGTON: Terming the slaying of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer as a loss for Pakistan, the US has said the country has to make efforts to root out extremism and bring greater peace and stability. “This is an individual who had worked hard to promote tolerance, and his loss is a great one for Pakistan,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, said.

“We remain committed to the efforts that the Pakistani government is and must undertake to root out violent extremism and to bring greater peace and stability to that country and to that region of the world,” he said.
Gibbs was responding to questions about the assassination, which is said to be a reflection of violent extremism in the country.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Cannon, the Canadian Foreign Minister, in a statement also expressed his condolences to the people of Pakistan on the assassination of Taseer.
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Governor Salman Taseer, and to the Pakistani people, in the wake of his vicious and cowardly assassination,” Cannon said.
“His death is a loss to the people of Pakistan and all those who shared his commitment to the promotion of tolerance and legal reforms in that country,” he said. -Online

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Posted in: assassination,country,death,extremism,Governor,Governor Salman Taseer,loss,Pakistan,Pakistani,Salman Taseer,US,White House

Murder raises brows over security

ISLAMABAD: After the assassination of Punjab Governor, Salman Taseer in the hands of his own personal security guard, military and security personnel have been overcome with deep apprehensions and concerns regarding maintaining any fool-proof security for the governmental officials. The murder of Salman Taseer on Tuesday afternoon has once again created worries among security and even Army personnel as to how to ensure a secure protocol for governmental officials.

Sources informed that officials are mulling and wondering besides investigating as to how the security guard responsible for assassination of Governor, ever made it to the elite police circles, and also as to how was he appointed over close security of Governor, while ignoring SOP (standard operative procedures). Sources have also informed that before appointing elite guards for VIP personnel, they have to undergo a massive check system, which also included complete scrutiny of their background. After this assassination, the security and Army personnel have decided to review the security procedures anew, for which a formal approval would be taken in a high level meeting to be held soon. -Online

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Taseer received 27 bullets

ISLAMABAD: Punjab Governor Salman Taseer received at least 27 gunshot bullets on his body, according to initial post mortem report.His body was transported to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for detailed post mortem.

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Posted in: body,Governor,Governor Salman Taseer,Institute,Islamabad,Medical Sciences,Pakistan Institute,PIMS,Punjab,Punjab Governor Salman Taseer,report,Salman Taseer

Angry supporters stage protests

ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of PPP supporters took to streets in different cities including Lahore, Sargodha, Multan, Toba Tek Singh, Sialkot, Okara, Rahimyar Khan, Gujranwala and Karachi after the assassination of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer by his own security guard in Islamabad

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Posted in: cites,Islamabad,Multan,PPP,protests,Punjab,Punjab Governor,Punjab Governor Salman Taseer,Rahimyar Khan,Salman Taseer,security,Toba Tek Singh

Musharraf grieves over assassination

ABU DHABI: Chief of All Pakistan Muslim League, (APML) Pervez Musharraf while expressing grief over the assassination of Governor Punjab, Salman Taseer has said that this was not only loss of the PPP but the whole country. According to a statement issued from the Abu Dhabi Secretariat, former President Pervez Musharraf was of the view that it is the loss for the whole country. He was a seasoned politician and always worked for betterment of the country, he added.

Musharraf further said that it seemed that the current government has failed to cope with terrorism from the country. He also expressed grief and sorrow with the family of Salman Taseer.

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Governor Punjab Taseer assassinated by his own guard

 ISLAMABAD: Governor Punjab Salman Taseer was dead after one of his guards, named Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, opened firing on him when he was going towards his car in Kohsar Market here today.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik confirmed to the media that the guard has been arrested. He has confessed that he opened firing on the governor because of his support of Asia Bibi, he added.

Asia Bibi had convicted of blasphemy.

According to the sources, a policeman of elite force opened burst on the governor. He received bullets on his chest and neck. He was rushed to Poly Clinic but succumbed to the injuries.
The police have arrested six-suspected man from the spot.
Salman Taseer had publicly supported the woman, Asia Bibi and requested President Asif Ali Zardari to pardon her. He had termed anti-blasphemy law as black law.

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Posted in: Asia Bibi,dead,Governor Punjab,Islamabad,Mumtaz Hussain Qadri,named Malik,President Asif Ali Zardari,Salman Taseer