Image via Express
This morning I woke up to news that Shahbaz Taseer, son of Salmaan Taseer, the Punjab Governor who was assassinated back in January, was kidnapped in Lahore. According to the Guardian,
Taseer, 27, was on his way to work at around 10.30am (0630 BST) when he was taken at a busy junction in Gulberg, the most upmarket part of the city. The kidnappers have not been identified but there are fears that jihadists are involved.
Eyewitnesses told media outlets that four men on motorbikes reportedly intercepted Taseer while he was in his car, “and took him to a nearby street before kidnapping him.” Dawn cited Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, who said he had been provided an official security detail in addition to the private guards he kept, but that he was without security at the time of the incident. As police are reviewing any CCTV footage, the Express Tribune reported, “One of the guards posted with Shahbaz Taseer was taken into custody and had his weapon seized when police questioned him and he revealed another guard was on leave. He had not left the house with Taseer but had later been told to go to the office.”
After reading the news and seeing numerous Facebook updates from friends who know Shahbaz and his family more closely than I do, it would be an understatement to say I feel sick to my stomach. My prayers go out for Shahbaz’s safe return and for the safety of his entire family. The Taseer family, first with the late Salmaan Taseer, and now his children (Shehrbano especially) are symbols and role models of the bravery and courage that this country should display in the face of those who wish to do it harm. I read a brilliant blog post by Acumen Fellow Bryan Ferris yesterday, who, after spending the past 10 months in Lahore working for Acumen investee Ansaar Management Company, wrote,
Pakistan is not a country of terrorists, but rather a country afflicted by terrorists.
Although the perpetrators of today’s kidnapping have not yet been confirmed, we know that whoever committed this act are not Pakistanis. They are not Muslims. They are not human beings. They reek of the rot and decay that plague this society, that people like the Taseers have had the courage to challenge and stand against. I’ll update this space as news comes in and send thoughts and prayers to his family for Shahbaz’s safe return.
If the Jihadis are involved in this, which I think is a huge possibility, then you can safely say that it is the phase in Pakistan where the radicals are taking out the non-radical, secular symbols one by one. They are dismantling Human symbols of resistance. Other kind of symbols are being destroyed too.
If you look at the larger picture, its really scary.
i am seriously worried about his family ! I pray to almighty to show light to the misled people of Pakistan !
[…] Lakhani at Changing Up Pakistan (CHUP) calls this cowardly act inhuman and prays for early return of Taseer: “Although the perpetrators […]
I really liked this piece in the Tribune by Jahanzaib Haque: http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/7684/shahbaz-taseer-kidnapped-and-a-scream-that-never-ends/
“To answer one question though – yes, Shahbaz Taseer is special for me. All the Taseers are special for me, because in the struggle for a poor Christian woman in a village, they did what no one in Pakistan is ready to do. They took risks, they made sacrifices and they are a symbol for justice above and beyond our flawed Constitution, our pathetic (often dangerous) clerics, our weak-willed, cowardly politicians.
It’s called walking the walk, rather than talking the talk and for that alone, I am humbled by their strength. I hope to show some of that same courage some day – to stand up for what is right, and make a difference, despite the risks and consequences.”
This came as a shock, as it is understandable that Taseer family has been in the cross hairs. Better security measures should have been in place.
Shahbaz Taseer’s abduction in broad day light from the heart of Lahore speak the volume of poor law and order situation in provincial capital rest is said. Another atrocity has been committed against the family of slain ex-governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer. First was his murder and now the kidnapping of his son. Shahbaz, who was on his way to work in the Gulberg area, was kidnapped during daylight hours in Lahore. The occurrence in broad daylight depicts the abysmal security situation of Punjab. It seems people are not even safe in the city centers of this country. This sends a negative but very clear message to every citizen living in Punjab Province. it is not safe to live here anymore. Sir: It is unbelievable that the son of the late Salmaan Taseer, a high profile victim of terrorism, can be abducted in broad daylight so easily. It was well known that the Taseers had been receiving death threats ever since the brutal assassination of Salmaan Taseer and that they were to be protected and safeguarded at all costs. How on earth has it happened that his son was so easily kidnapped and that he was without adequate security? If this is the law and order situation in provincial capital then who here can be safe? How can anyone feel secure leaving their house? As a matter of fact, is it even safe indoors? I think not. It is imperative that Taseer junior be found safe and sound. Failure to do so will signal to the entire nation that the writ of the state has fallen to the militants and that there is nothing left worth fighting for. Furthermore, Chief Minister Punjab Should focus on its own province rather than running austerity drives against federal capital and mouthing on Karachi killing. It is better for him to protect people of its own province where no one is safe.
I will say a prayer for this candle in the wind. It will be important and interesting to see how rest of the civil society in Pakistan reacts to this and whether Army decides to do anything. This is the stuff that real social revolutions are made of.
It is time that we should move beyond only prayers and pressurize the authorities in taking some concrete steps.
I and a small group of friends have been praying every day since we heard of Shahbaz’s kidnapping. I hope our prayers, along with those of many others, are answered and that he returns to the family soon. Ameen
“Shahbaz, we’re praying for you. We’re praying the abduction was carried out solely for ransom. We pray that you are returned, unharmed, to your family – and most importantly – to the loving, outstretched arms of your mother.