FIR registered over attack on vigil to commemorate Salman Taseer

Published
34

LAHORE: Police on Monday registered a case against unknown persons in relation to Sunday's attack on a candlelight vigil in Lahore to mark the death anniversary of former Punjab governor Salman Taseer.

The First Information Report (FIR) of the incident was registered in the Gulberg police station when civil society activists complained that their vigil to commemorate Taseer was attacked by unknown men.

The FIR has been registered against seven unknown men and certain sections from the anti-terrorism act have also been added to the complaint.

Meanwhile, police sources say nineteen people have been taken into custody — including some who were seen to be involved in the attack.

Police sources told Dawn that most of the arrested men belong to a banned organisation.

Taseer was murdered by his security guard Mumtaz Qadri for demanding reforms in Pakistan’s blasphemy laws in 2011. An anti-terrorism court had awarded death penalty to Qadri in October the same year.

Sunday’s attack on the vigil commemorating the later governor took place when members of civil society gathered at the provincial capital’s Liberty Chowk to light candles in the slain politician’s memory.

Baton-wielding miscreants tore apart banners and posters as they attacked members of civil society. Several people were injured in the sudden attack. The attackers had, however, managed to flee before police arrived at the scene.

Civil society activists said candlelight vigils have been organised in Taseer’s memory for the past four year, but this was the first time that such an event was attacked.

Opinion

Editorial

Fixing bond markets
Updated 01 Oct, 2026

Fixing bond markets

Pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds, retail investors, and eventually, foreign investors must become bigger participants in the market.
Call centre rackets
01 Oct, 2026

Call centre rackets

A NUMBER of recent raids conducted by the authorities in different cities point to the growing threat fraudulent ...
Homeward bound
01 Oct, 2026

Homeward bound

FIVE months after Somali pirates captured an oil tanker carrying a 19-member multinational crew, Somali maritime...
Kashmir unresolved
Updated 30 Sep, 2026

Kashmir unresolved

The just solution lies in India addressing the issue through a trilateral dialogue involving the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
Water shortage
30 Sep, 2026

Water shortage

THAT the country is entering the Rabi season with an anticipated water shortage of nearly 25pc, the lowest carryover...
Young hearts
30 Sep, 2026

Young hearts

THE observance may have passed, but the message of World Heart Day should not fade with it. The occasion is a useful...