A war which is not yet over

E-Paper | June 12, 2026

SALMAAN Taseer’s martyrdom is not just the death of a great leader but also the death of justice! It is the death of all hopes of the minorities who looked up to him for their protection. This is a dark day in the history of this country and we should all be ashamed of ourselves. I suggest the extremist elements in this country not to delude themselves from what they have won.

They succeeded in killing Salmaan Taseer, who was an asset to the cause of humanity. However, we will not cry, instead we will celebrate for we have proven that we are determined enough to give up our lives for the sake of our cause. Not the one who kills but the one who is ready to get killed is the stronger one. We shall not let Salmaan Taseer’s great sacrifice go to waste, we will continue with his cause and fight till we succeed or every last one of us meets the same fate as his! The war is not over yet.

Until and unless religion and the state are separated, Pakistani society will get uglier with every passing day. We must not let the mullahs suffocate liberal voices. It is time to stand up. It is time to say no to ‘mullahism’.

AMJAD RASHID Islamabad

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Malik Ahmad

Jan 09, 2013 03:13pm

His son was abducted for no fault of his. No concerted effort or even a cursory mentioning of his name is found anywhere in the private or public sector. Shamelessly, he along with a senior American citizen had lost in the wilderness of Pakistani greed, ignorance, and contemptuous preoccupation. What is left for his murderer to languish too long in the Jail? Why so much delay in calling the hangman? You are rewarding a gori murder and equating it with martyrdom?

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Indian

Jan 09, 2013 07:20am

Good post. This is where people across the border like me are impressed about the common pakistani who dare to fight religious extremism.

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kamaljit Singh

Jan 09, 2013 08:21am

Salaam Janab. This is what we need.

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mazharuddin

Jan 09, 2013 10:53am

This is an example of fanaticism that do no belong to Islam or any other monotheistic religion. Unfortunately wicked religious scholars, political parties and their leaders encouraging such extremism. It shame for all of us. Writers and honest civilized people should come ahead and condemn such activities that disturb countries atmosphere. Religion is only to believe in God and honestly perform duties for own survival.

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Neer Nayan

Jan 09, 2013 06:46pm

An unexpected article, and surprisingly a conscience-questioning one, takes us to a point where choice is essential, and no more optional! Humanity is the essence of one of the greatest spiritual paths, The Great Islam; absolutely in sync with that preached and followed by the True Followers of all other Paths, all leading to Enlightenment. The utmost essential duty of a true follower of The Great One (PBH), is to "unconditionally and without any prejudices", protect, support & help the fellow-beings around her/him, irrespective of their cast, creed, sex and ideologies! Thanks Rashid Bhai!

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V. C. Bhutani

Jan 09, 2013 11:42pm

Very true, but this is hardly achievable in the foreseeable future. I agree with you, Sir, that the State and religion should be separated. It is difficult to achieve that as long as the country remains the Islamic Republic of Pakistan - according to the Constitution. Besides, we have had Islamization of Pakistan's polity and society from Ziaul Haq's days onwards. None of his successors had the courage to reverse the trend, which still goes on. In Pakistan it is Islam, Quran, Muhammad, Shariat, and Hadith all along the way and nothing else, as if the whole objective of the State is to promote these. V. C. Bhutani, Delhi, India, 10 Jan 2013, 0512 IST

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