Pakistan Christians salute slain governor, extremists hail assassin

(January 07, 2011) Christians in Pakistan are hailing assassinated Punjab governor Salman Taseer as their “hero” because of his “courage and struggle for justice and peace in the country.” “Though a Muslim, Taseer gave his life for a just cause and has become a hero to the Christian community,” said Sumaira Shafique, general secretary of Pakistan’s Christian Lawyers Association. She was speaking during a Jan. 6 visit to Taseer’s grave at the Military Martyr’s cemetery in Lahore. Father Emmanuel Yousaf Mani, National Director of the Catholic Bishop’s National Commission for Justice and Peace laid a floral tribute on Taseer’s grave and prayed for him and his family. The 66-year old governor of Punjab was shot dead in Islamabad on Tuesday by one of his bodyguards who told interrogators he was angry over the politician's opposition to blasphemy laws that impose the death penalty for those convicted of insulting Islam. In a statement, Father Mani strongly urged the government to take “a clear stance and strong legislative measures for the eradication of religious extremism in Pakistani society … and to stop the misuse of blasphemy laws.” Meanwhile, five hundred Pakistani religious scholars have warned that anyone who expresses grief over the assassination of Taseer could suffer the same fate. The scholars also praised the "courage" and religious zeal of the killer, saying his action has made Muslims around the world proud. Human rights groups say the blasphemy laws are often exploited by religious conservatives as well as ordinary people to settle personal scores.