THE tragic news of Governor Taseer's ghastly murder hit us like an out of control freight train. His tragic death has left one deeply saddened for the departed soul, his family and close friends and the country at large which lost a voice of reason that was not afraid to speak.

Salman Taseer's forthright stand on issues of import and his views on life portrayed him as a man of integrity and sincerity who acted on what he said.

That he was a lion is exemplified by his passionate and courageous support for a poor woman on death row who in his view was convicted wrongly of a crime. He demanded justice for the most vulnerable of victims across the divide of class and religion. While watching the news unfolding on various TV channels one was aghast at the ugly comments made by 'religious scholars' who were desperately trying to deflect the culpability of the ghastly murder with muted condemnation, laced with unfortunate explanations suggesting that somehow he was responsible for his own murder because he dared question the validity of a man-made law. Blaming the victim, that is what they are good at.

That the killer was somehow 'motivated' by his love for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) in committing this murder leaves one's head hanging in shame and disgust. The people of Pakistan need to be woken up from the state of mass psychosis that afflicts the land of the pure.

Where are the religious scholars who will explain to the assassin that in his heart he was planning a murder while donning the uniform of a police officer, supposedly acting as a protector and then firing, without a warning, on the hapless victim on his back?

Is that what Islam teaches us to be, connivance and secrecy, afraid to face our opponents? Where is the fabled courage expected of a 'Momin'? If he was so dead against the Governor, why did he not declare his stand openly like the Governor declared his stand on the blasphemy laws?

This monster of religious hatred that has been spawned and nurtured in this beloved land of ours has now been fully grown for some time and will eventually devour all unless crushed with the same ferocity that it itself projects, period.

HASAN BIN HAMZA Australia

Awful loss WORDS fail me. I have tried hard but nothing is adequate. All I am aware of is this dark gaping hole inside of me. I heard the news on Tuesday evening and since then it has been on all channels, Pakistani and foreign. No matter how many times I hear the news, my mind refuses to accept it. The loss, the huge, awful loss!

Where do I start? With his charisma, with his strength in the face of the great evil darkening Pakistan, or with the mischievous wit that made watching his media appearances a delight. There is too much to mourn and it will take a long time before it really sinks in.

Why? An overzealous religious fanatic kills someone whose worth he can not even imagine to comprehend. Many will condole his death. But how many will understand as to who is greater, the one who kills for his beliefs or the one who dies for it?

To me the answer is clear.

DR AYESHA SARFRAZ Australia

It's blasphemy AS an Indian who ardently follows developments in Pakistan, I was too shocked to react immediately to Salman Taseer's murder. It is unfortunate that this is happening in the name of Allah, “the most beneficent, the most merciful”.

If this murder is not blasphemy then what is?

SHRIKANT N. SHENOY Parkala

Lasting legacy EVER since I heard of this sad and tragic event, I have been in absolute shock. I wonder why this happened.

What was Salman Taseer's crime to have deserved such brutal execution? Was it to speak his mind? Was it to ask for justice to be done and practised? Was it to seek pardon for a poor Christian peasant woman wrongfully accused of another capital crime? If so, then I am one of those many justice-and peace-loving citizens of this country that are not only outraged at this travesty but also stand for what Salman Taseer stood for. His last cause is now his lasting legacy and our mission to accomplish.

RAVEZ JUNEJO Karachi

Islam against extremes THE brutal murder of Salman Taseer has exposed the major threat posed to liberal democrats of Pakistan. The former governor is yet another politician of Pakistan who has given his life due to extremist elements.

Ages have passed and as citizens we continue to mix religion and politics in the most dangerous manner. It will be more helpful if we look at the positive side and try to promote the basics of Islam that are affection and tolerance.

Islam prohibits extremes because it leads to such anarchy present in the state at the moment.

ERAJ DANISH Islamabad