DAILY TIMES – SALMAAN TASEER REMEMBERED ON THIRD DEATH ANNIVERSARY

LAHORE: The third death anniversary of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer was observed in the city on Saturday, with civil society holding a candlelight vigil at Liberty Roundabout.

Institute for Peace and Secular Studies (IPSS), Civil Society Network Pakistan, Centre For Human Rights Education Pakistan, Minority Coverage Foundation and other civil society organisations held a candlelight vigil. People from different walks of life, including human rights activists, members of civil society organisations and students participated in the vigil. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Secretary General IA Rehman, Civil Society Network President Abdullah Malik, IPSS Director Saeeda Diep, CHRE Director Samson Salamat were also present on the occasion. The participants, carrying placards and posters, chanted slogans against religious extremism, terrorism, and called for punishing Salmaan Taseer’s assassin Mumtaz Qadri. They also demanded release of Aasia Bibi. The placards that the participants held were inscribed with slogans like “Peace for All”, “Salmaan Taseer: A Man of Courage”, “Down with fanaticism”, “Stop Killings”, “Repeal Blasphemy Laws”, “Stop Religious Extremism”, “Stop Terrorism in the Name of Islam”. Talking to Daily Times, Saeed Diep said that Salmaan Taseer was the governor of the largest province of Pakistan, and we should honour him by naming a road or roundabout after him.