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Thousands Attend Funeral for Slain Pakistani Governor

VOA News
05 January 2011

Thousands of mourners gathered under tight security in Lahore, Pakistan Wednesday for the funeral of slain Punjab Governor Salman Taseer.

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and senior government officials attended the funeral, which took place at the Governor's House. Taseer was shot to death Tuesday in Islamabad. The suspect, one of his guards identified as Mumtaz Qadri, confessed to killing the governor because of his opposition to a controversial law on blasphemy.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said an investigation is underway to determine whether the killer acted alone or as part of a wider organization. On Wednesday, 500 conservative religious scholars issued a proclamation praising the assassination and warning that anyone who opposes the blasphemy law could also be killed.

Taseer was a member of the ruling Pakistan People's Party, which is struggling to stay in power following the defection of a key coalition partner.

The leading opposition party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had given the government three days to agree to a series of reforms in order to avoid collapse. But the party has pushed back its deadline until after the mourning period for the Punjab governor.

Taseer was a staunchly secular and progressive politician and an outspoken opponent of religious extremism. He led a charge to reform a blasphemy law that sets harsh penalties for offenders. He recently called for the release of a Christian woman condemned to death for allegedly making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Taseer's death "a great loss" and said Washington remains committed to helping Pakistan's government achieve peace and stability.

Taseer's killing is the most high-profile political assassination in Pakistan since former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was killed three years ago.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.