Within hours of MQM(Muttahida Quami Movement) withdrawing support to the Pakistan govt led by Pakistan Peoples’ Party reducing it to a minority, another fatal blow was dealt to PPP by which Salman Tasir, the Governor of Punjab was shot to death by his own gun man allegedly for speaking against blasphemy laws. He was accused of speaking in favour of Aasia, a Christian woman who broke the blasphemy laws which irritated the conservatives. A Muslim cleric was believed to have offered a reward of Rs 50000/ for whoever willing to do away with her. The murder of Salman Tasir has reportedly angered many progressive-minded youth who are in favour of reforms. One among them reportedly wrote in his blog ‘We are living in a hell hole we built for ourselves for 63 years….Religion has become the argument for insane irrational behaviour and perversion of the worst kind. Salman fell an easy prey to that insanity. No one is safe…This is the house we all built after all’.
Salman Tasir’s assassination was the second such killing since the assassination of former Prime Minister of Pakistan and Peoples’ Party Leader Benazir Bhutto by an unidentified assailant during her election campaign two years ago. Salman Tasir was a close confident of Pak President Asif Ali Sardari, it is reported.
As he was about to board his vehicle, he was shot point blank by his security Malik Mumtaz Quadri and soon after gunning him down he dropped his gun - a signal for surrender before the authorities. The man was reportedly against the anti-blasphemy laws attitude of Salman Tasir and that was supposed to have prompted him to trigger the gun. Other than this whether any other power was behind this act is also suspected. One blogger gave vent to his rage by pointing out that Quandris (assailants) are roaming through the streets and are very much in every news room.
With the withdrawal of support to the govt Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani though shows a brave face by stating that there is no threat to his govt he is reportedly busy on the hunt for an ally for a stable govt. The withdrawal of power by one constituent reducing the govt into a minority the assassination of Salman Tasir, the Punjab Governor and Pakistan Peoples’ Party leader and the militant outfits frequently striking at will across Pakistan killing hundreds on a day to day basis. Pakistan is really caught in doldrums.
Meanwhile Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Sherif) – PML(N) led by Nawaz Sherif is up in arms against the PPP govt demanding withdrawal of a recent hike in the prices of petroleum products, regulation of power and gas tariffs besides a 30-percent cut in government expenditure and a threat to expel PPP from Punjab provincial govt led by PML(N) or else be ready to face the dire consequences.
Meanwhile Pak President Asif Ali Sardari is getting ready for a visit to USA on Jan 12 to attend a commemorative meeting of Richard Holbrooke, former Af-Pak envoy who succumbed to a heart-ailment two weeks ago.
Grapewine has it that, his visit is something related to the fluid situation prevailing in Pakistan and for a helping hand to be extended by the all-weather friend USA. A one on one meeting with State Secretary Hilary Clinton is on cards apparently to find ways out of the imbroglio.
Pak Army is watching every movement carefully and it is worth remembering that even while a democratic govt is at the helm, the rein is in the hands of army. It was like that earlier too.
Now the govt is about to collapse after reaching a minority status and if the damage control exercise of Pakistan Peoples’ Party is about to fail Pak army won’t sit with hands crossed.
And it is for the neighbouring nation of India to worry more about a Pakistan which is not stable. A stable Pakistan is always for the good of India.
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