LAHORE: ‘Salmaan Taseer is the hero of minorities in Pakistan’ read one of the placards at the Liberty roundabout where a good number of PPP leaders and workers and civil society activists had gathered on Monday to mark the fifth anniversary of his assassination.

The family members of Taseer, including his son Shehryar and daughter Shehrbano, also joined the gathering and pledged to continue the struggle of Taseer who was killed by his own police guard, Mumtaz Qadri, on Jan 4, 2011.

The participants chanted slogans against the Taliban and extremists and demanded the government hang Qadri in public.

The participants also held a candlelit vigil to remember Taseer.

Unlike the last year, a police contingent was deployed at the venue to stop any untoward incident. Police had also placed barbed wires to protect the area.

Last year, several people had attacked participants in the candlelit vigil at Liberty roundabout.

Police had arrested the attackers and tried them in an anti-terrorism court which convicted five of them for three to five years prison terms.

Speaking on the occasion, PPP leader MNA Shazia Marri said: “Taseer’s sacrifice reminds us of the struggle for free Pakistan. We want to live in free Pakistan. We will continue raising our voice for the oppressed (referring to Aasia Bibi case).”

Ms Marri questioned the government’s performance regarding the National Action Plan (NAP).

“We want results (of NAP), not tall claims,” she said, adding efforts were made to frighten the PPP which could not be succeeded. She said the NAP’s purpose should not be only setting up the military courts.

She demanded action against hatemongers and those spreading sectarianism.

Ms Marri said investigation should be conducted into the disclosure of PTI Chairman Imran Khan that the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital had provided medical treatment to terrorists. Imran had earlier declared the Taliban his brothers, she added.

Jahan Ara Wattoo, Asif Khan and Abdullah Malik also spoke on the occasion and paid a tribute to Taseer. They said Taseer was the ambassador of humanity, peace, progress and tolerance. He was a brave man who never shied away from raising his voice for the marginalised and women.

Meanwhile, the supporters of Mumtaz Qadri also held a demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club and demanded his release.

Traffic remained suspended there for several hours.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2016