Pakistani Governor assassinated for opposition to blasphemy law

“The assassination of the Governor of Punjab is going to make it virtually impossible for anyone to speak out against the blasphemy law”, says Archbishop Lawrence J. Saldanha of Lahore. “Initially when the High Court sentenced Asia Bibi to death, many members of civil society spoke out against this law and there was a general sense that it needed to be repealed. Now that tide has turned”, he adds.

On Tuesday Punjab Governor, Salman Taseer was shot by one of his own guards in Islamabad. The gunman later told police it was because of his opposition to Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law. The Governor had also requested a pardon for Asia Bibi, the Christian mother of five sentenced to death under the law, on fabricated charges, her lawyers claim.

The killing came just one day after a main coalition partner quit government and has added to concerns about inroads by Islamist fundamentalists into Pakistan's establishment. It also follows on the heels of nationwide strikes, called by radical Islamic groups to counter any moves to repeal the law.

Archbishop Saldanha, expressing the Catholic Churches sadness at the murder of Govenor Taseer. notes there is a rising tide of intolerance against any form of dissent in Pakistan, spurred on by fundamentalist fringes in the Muslim majority nation. “We Catholics feel increasing marginalised”, he says, “ we have had to increase security around our Churches, especially during Christmas celebrations”. “While there was some hope before that things may change, now with the government virtually a lame duck, that hope has gone”. Listen to the full interview: