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| Salmaan Taseer remembered |
Source/Credit: Miami Herald | Letters
By Mansura Bashir Minhas | January 6, 2010
Re. the Jan. 4 story Provincial governor in Pakistan assassinated by his own guard: Salman Taseer's tweet from Dec. 31 reads: ``I was under huge pressure 2 cow down b4 rightest pressure on blasphemy. Refused. Even if I'm the last man standing.''
Taseer was a rare voice in Pakistan. He dared to challenge the Pakistani establishment and crusaded to repeal the blasphemy laws. A study by the National Commission for Justice and Peace reports that a total of 964 people have been charged under its pretext: 479 Muslims, 340 Ahmadi, 119 Christians, 14 Hindus and 10 of other religions. Thirty-two people charged with blasphemy have been murdered through extra-judicial killings.
Taseer paid a heavy price for his fearless stance. He rose above the cowardice that is typical of Pakistani politicians. He even visited Aasia Bibi -- the latest accused victim of these horrendous laws -- and assured her of his support. He was well aware that supporting minorities in Pakistan is tantamount to political suicide.
Since Pakistan's inception in 1947, even secular governments have given in to the whims of the radicals and have never dared to confront them. Challenging the blasphemy laws was not beneficial to Taseer's political advancement; rather, it was akin to walking into the lion's den.
His website carries his quote: ``You live life once, you live it by your principles and you live it courageously -- that's what it's about.'' Pakistan finally had a politician who lived up to his words.
MANSURA BASHIR MINHAS, Miami
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/06/2002741/pakistani-leader-slain-for-his.html
Read original post here: Pakistani leader slain for his high principles
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