Salman Taseer, outspoken Pakistani governor, assassinated

KARACHI, Pakistan - The governor of Pakistan's largest province--a sharp-tongued supporter of embattled President Asif Ali Zardari and an outspoken critic of religious extremists--was assassinated Tuesday at a genteel market in the nation's capital, allegedly by one of his own security guards, Pakistani news channels reported.

Salman Taseer, the liberal governor of Punjab province, was shot multiple times at the shopping plaza, which is near his home and is frequented by foreigners.

Pakistani news channels reported that police arrested one of Taseer's guards, who allegedly confessed that he was angered by Taseer's recent public endorsement of a pardon for a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy.

That position had earned him threats from Islamist parties, who held a strike last week against proposed changes to the nation's controversial anti-blasphemy laws. Taseer stood by his stance, recently posting on the social networking site Twitter: "I was under huge pressure sure 2 cow down b4 rightest pressure on blasphemy. Refused. Even if I'm the last man standing."

The slaying came as the nation's main opposition party, which dominates in Punjab, held a news conference to demanded that the federal government implement a list of reforms within three days or risk collapse.

The U.S.-allied government has been on the rocks since Sunday, when Pakistan's second-largest political party defected to the opposition, depriving the ruling coalition led by Zardari's Pakistan People's Party of a parliamentary majority.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement cited government corruption and a recent gasoline price hike as the reasons it left the government and joined the opposition.

Zadari's options for salvaging his government include trying to win the support of the main opposition party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N, headed by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

But Sharif said Monday that Zadari's party must implement corruption verdicts against government officials, slash government spending and reverse the gasoline price increase.

If the steps are not taken, Sharif said, his party will form a united opposition with MQM, which could force a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani and potentially trigger early elections.

(source:washingtonpost.com)

Salman Taseer, سلمان تاثیر

Salman Taseer, سلمان تاثیر

Salmaan Taseer (Punjabi, Urdu: سلمان تاثیر) is a Pakistani businessman and politician who is the current Governor of the province of Punjab. He is a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and has also served as a minister in the caretaker cabinet of Prime Minister Muhammad Mian Soomro under Pervez Musharraf. Taseer is also the chairman and CEO of the First Capital and Worldcall Group. He was appointed to the post of governor on 15 May 2008 in place of outgoing governor, Lt Gen (R) Khalid Maqbool.  by former President, Pervez Musharraf at the request of the PPP establishment.He Died on 4th January 2011, in Islamabad, in a firing incident.

Political career

Taseer started his political career in his student era, as a member of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the late 1960s. He was a part of the movement for Bhutto's freedom and opposed his arrest and death sentence. He also wrote a political biography on Bhutto titled Bhutto: A political biography (1980).

In the 1988 general elections, Taseer became a member of the Punjab Assembly from Lahore. In the 1990, 1993 and 1997 general elections, he ran as an MNA but lost.

In 2007, he was appointed the interim Federal Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives.

On 15 May 2008, Taseer was designated for the office of Governor Punjab by the PPP-led coalition government.

Business career

Taseer set up several chartered accountancy and management consultancy firms early in his career. In 1994 he established the First Capital Securities Corporation (FCSC), a full service brokerage house with equity participation by Smith Barney Inc USA and HG Asia Hong Kong.

Taseer founded the Worldcall group with a payphone network in 1995. The group has grown over the years to become a major private sector telecom operator with national and regional footprint. A majority stake in Worldcall was acquired by Omantel, Sultanate of Oman's incumbent operator, in 2008.

Taseer also owns an English news channel in Pakistan, Business Plus and the first kids channel, Wikkid Plus. He is also the publisher of the English language Daily Times.

Personal life

Taseer is married to Aamna Taseer and the two currently reside in Lahore. They have six children; Maryam, Shehryar, Shahbaz, Sara, Sanam and Shehr Bano.

Taseer also has a son, Aatish Taseer (born 1980) with Indian journalist, Tavleen Singh. Married at the time, Taseer met Singh during a book promotion trip to India in the late 70s. Aatish is a freelance journalist in the UK and has recently written a book titled "Stranger to History: A Son’s Journey through Islamic Lands" on his estranged relationship with his father.

Taseer was known to be one of the trusted aides of Benazir Bhutto. He was a class fellow of Nawaz Sharif at Saint Anthony School, Lahore. He has obtained a degree in Chartered Accountancy from London.

Controversy

Foreign Policy Magazine highlighted statements made by Taseer on Twitter during 2010 Pakistan floods and labeled his self published statements sarcastically under the title "Great moments in 21st century diplomacy" referring to them as an "ill-conceived joke" and "insensitive".

From 2008 onwards, the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority has censored several website that were deemed to be critical of the governors lifestyle. 

In December 2010 as Punjab Governor, he departed the country without handing over charge to the speaker, this meant that the province was without a constitutional head, and it also rendered the assembly speaker ineligible to preside over the session. Leaving the province without informing his successor was in violation of the constitution and this lead to calls for his resignation. He is also very famous for making insignificant and pompous statements on his twitter account. Evidence provided by ICAO on the governors' travel abroad, lead to a case being filed in court for breach of the constitution.

Death

Salman Taseer died in Islamabad on 4th January, 2011 at Kohsar Market in Islamabad. The attacker shot dead by the guards of Salman Taseer. He was shifted to the nearest hospital after the Attack. But he scumbbed to his injuries.

(source:wikipedi)