No Outcry.........

This is the self confessed assassin of Pakistani Governor Salman Taseer. The one time body guard of the Governor was incensed at the Governor's backing for reform of the blasphemy law. Last November a Christian woman Asia Bibi was sentenced to death for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad, she denies the charge. Hardline clerics had been angered by the Governor's visit to see the woman in jail, and for his support for a private members bill hoping for a amendment to the law to prevent miscarriages of justice, and to remove the mandatory death sentence. What is so alarming about this incident is that he was able to discharge two magazines of sub machine gun rounds with out being challenged by his colleagues. At his first court appearance in Islamabad last week, he was showered with rose petals by sympathisers, including some lawyers. Yesterday 50,000 protesters marched in Karachi against the proposed reforms. The rally was attended by all Muslim groups and sects in the city, including moderates and conservatives.
A compassionate Governor is gunned down, and his murderer is hailed as a hero? Aatish Taseer, the Governor's son has written a poignant article in the Sunday Telegraph on the killing. He states that unless Pakistan can separate religion from the state then Pakistan will not be able to move on. He is not very hopeful though.  The-killer-of-my-father-Salman-Taseer-was-showered-with-rose-petals I feel deeply for the Governor's family, and I feel deeply for Pakistan where a level of bigotry and hatred continues to hamper the country like a curse.