PAKISTAN: The Slain Governor Punjab Salman Taseer`s Son Abducted in Lahore

The slain Governor Punjab Salman Taseer - File Photo

(August 26, Lahore, Sri Lanka Guardian) Shahbaz Taseer son of the slain Governor Punjab Salman Taseer was kidnapped by armed men in Lahore. According to the eye witnesses Shahbaz Taseer was going towards his company office "World Call" located at 103C2 Gulberg Lahore, at around 10:54 am just a few meters away from the office a motorcycle intercepted Taseer`s Mercedes Benz SLK 200, bearing the license plate LZT 1. He stopped, more than 4 armed men came out of a black Toyota Land Cruiser and kidnapped him on gun point.

The abductors threw away Shahbaz Taseer`s iPhone, 2 cell phones and the laptop and drove towards DHA ( Defence Housing Authority) through the Calgary Bridge. According to the close family sources the Taseer family has been receiving threats from the Taliban and other extremist groups since the assassination of Salman Taseer. Salman Taseer a business tycoon had widely spoken against the Blasphemy laws, condemned them and called it the "Black law". Salman Taseer publicly supported Asia Bibi the Christian sentenced to death on the blasphemy law and appealed for Pardon to the President of Pakistan. In an interview to an international news channel in November 2010, Salman Taseer said, "If the High Court does not suspend her sentence we will pardon her. The blasphemy law is not a God-made law. It’s a man-made law. It was made by General Ziaul Haq and the portion about giving a death sentence was put in by Nawaz Sharif. So it’s a law which gives an excuse to extremists and reactionaries to target weak people and minorities.” On 4th January 2011 Salman Taseer was assassinated by his own security guard in Kohsar Market in Islamabad, who claimed that Taseer was a "Blasphemer". The cleric Muhammad Afzal Chisti who led the funeral prayer for Salman Taseer for forced to leave the country for receiving life threats for calling Taseer a "martyr" and leading his funeral prayer. Early this year Shahbaz Bhatti was also assassinated in broad day light for suggesting amendments in the Blasphemy laws.

Salman Taseer`s daughter Sherbano Taseer has already left the Country due to the life threats. She had said, " We have been trying to windup the business empire my father has built, my father has served the Country with devotion, but we are victimized for serving the Country and speaking for the voiceless." Sheryar Taseer said, " The Punjab Government has given us the police security, but today the guards were not with Shahbaz Taseer as he went to the office. Along with the threats from the religious groups, we have the business rivals who have been targeting my father and now they are after us. "

The Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has taken the notice and has instructed the law enforcing agencies to ensure the safe return of Shahbaz Taseer, he also talked to Sherbano Taseer on the phone. The Chief minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has instructed the IG ( Inspector General) Punjab to take immediate action. IG Punjab said, " We have deployed security at the Taseers residence, all the entry and exit points in Lahore. The Investigation teams are collecting evidences from the crime scene. The security personals are also being investigated. The motive of the abduction is unclear, as the abductors left the vehicle, iPhone, laptop and the other belongings. If they had intended to kill, they had a clear chance. So far no one has claimed the responsibility. We are also investigating Mumtaz Qadri, Salman Taseer`s assassin, we are investigating all the aspects in the matter."

Shahbaz Taseer`s mother Amina Taseer is in no position to comment, earlier this year she lost her husband and now her son has been abducted. According to the analysts, this may be an attempt to rescue Mumtaz Qadri in exchange for Shahbaz Taseer, as the abductors didnt take anything from the vehicle. If it was a matter of religious extremism they would have killed him on the spot, the family has refused to comment about any specific business rival, so the only option left is the rescue for Mumtaz Qadri as the court is delaying the trail.

Earlier on August 13, armed men had abducted an American aid expert Warren Weinstein from his residence in Model Town Lahore, police is still investigating the matter. Lawlessness situation prevails in Karachi and Lahore and the police is unable to control the situation.

The social sector has condemned Shahbaz Taseer`s abduction. The Humanitarian organizations had highlighted the threats to the Taseer Family after Salman Taseer`s murder. A statement by Life for All Pakistan said, " Salman Taseer showed his solidarity with minority communities who are being targeted by the law and, in doing so, he sent across a strong message. The murders of Taseer and Bhatti and the extremism and intolerance that such acts displayed were not isolated incidents, extremism is now part of mainstream Pakistan. Every Pakistani should be devastated when an individual gets kidnapped. Every Pakistani should be devastated when a human being gets killed for his personal opinion in this country. We are praying for the family and hope that Shahbaz Taseer returns home unharmed."