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Journalism of Courage
Tuesdays murder of Salman Taseer,the governor of Pakistans Punjab province,by one of his guards underlines the deepening structural crisis in the nation. The first major political assassination since the killing of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto a little over three years ago has brought into sharp relief the growing militant infiltration of the security forces,a weak civilian government that is unable to govern,an economy in shambles,and an all-powerful army leadership that appears to have lost the plot. The assassin has reportedly said his motivation was to avenge the governors support to changes in Pakistans notorious law against blasphemy that has victimised not only religious minorities but also mainstream Muslims. Taseer had visited Aasiya Bibi,a Christian woman awaiting the death sentence for blasphemy,and forwarded her appeal for pardon to President Asif Ali Zardari. Last week,protests by Islamic groups against any changes to the law directed their anger at Taseer.
Vigilantism against blasphemy is not uncommon in Islamic societies,but its penetration of security forces raises profound concerns about the future of Pakistan. Whether the killer was part of a larger plot against Taseer,also a leading light of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party,might never come to light. Pakistan has a poor record of investigating political assassinations,as seen in the cases of Benazir Bhutto and General Zia-ul-Haq. Zardari,who is unable to confront the possible involvement of Pakistans permanent establishment in plotting the death of his wife,is unlikely to dig deep into the killing of his close ally Taseer. Equally disturbing has been the support on social networking sites for Taseers killer and his cause.
