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PAKPAC Condemns
Assassination of
Governor Punjab
WASHINGTON DC, JANUARY
4, 2011 Pakistan
American Public Affairs
Committee (PAKPAC) joins
all fellow Pakistani
Americans in strongly
condemning the
assassination of Mr.
Salman Taseer, the
twenty sixth Governor of
Punjab,
our deepest sympathies
are with Governor
Taseer’s wife and
children.
The 66-year-old, one of
the country's most
moderate voices against
radical Islam and the
encroaching menace of
the Taliban and
Al-Qaeda, was shot dead
by a member of his own
security detail outside
an upscale market cafe
in Islamabad on Tuesday.
 Pakistan
American community has been
in a state of shock and
immense grief on hearing
the news. Although
details as to the motive
of the crime are yet to
surface, initial
indications are that
this brutal murder one
again raises the
fundamental issue: that
religious indoctrination
is feeding the fires of
hatred and intolerance.
Lately, Mr. Taseer had
become an outspoken
champion of tolerance
and women rights. He
supported the rights of
all minorities in
Pakistan,
opposed extremism and
Talibanisation,
and was against misuse
of laws to marginalize
minorities under the
guise of religious
beliefs and the current
blasphemy law.
Mr. Taseer was a brave
man who along
with a handful of other
politicians
like Sherry Rahman had
called for the repeal of
Pakistan’s blasphemy
law.
Governor Taseer’s murder
is simply a sign of the
lack of understanding of
the peaceful Islamic
faith by a violent,
vocal and misguided
minority of people in
Pakistan. This murder
and many others are the
result of a minority of
religious clergy who
continue to instill
intolerance, violence
and create an
environment of a mob
type justice without due
process. Anyone who
kills outside the
framework of laws has
not only committed a
crime but a grave sin.
These are signs of not
only religious extremism
but also ignorance
extremism.
Mr. Taseer murder must
be condemned and
repudiated, not
extolled. Otherwise,
Pakistan will be in a
downward spiral in which
intolerance and
extremism may triumph.
Islam is a faith which
teaches respect and
tolerance for all
people. There is
considerable respect for
the people of Abrahamic
and other faiths.
Prophet Mohammed (SAW)
life is a perfect
example of tolerance,
love and respect for all
people. It was by his
love and character that
he won the hearts of all
people. Using the same
faith and the same
perfect personality
(SAW) to justify killing
the innocent and the
minorities is the worst
form of blasphemy
against The Faith.
Pakistan American Public
Affairs Committee
President Dr. Suleman
asked the people of
Pakistan to stand up
peacefully yet firmly
against the voices of
intolerance and hate in
any shape or form. “This
type of indoctrination
is the single biggest
threat to the humanity
at this time. Only the
larger society can get
rid of this menace from
all levels within the
society. This is the
time to unite and join
forces and recover the
faith of Peace and Love”
he said. Dr. Suleman
asked the
Pakistani authorities to
investigate thoroughly
and share their full
findings with the
Pakistani people. He
appealed to the
Law enforcement agencies
and Citizens of Punjab
to maintain law and
order in Lahore and
other cities in Punjab.
PAKPAC position
on Pakistan's
Blasphemy Law.
For more information
write to
ed@pakpac.net or call 202
558 6404
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