PAK-LD TASEER 2 LST

Footage on television showed a pool of blood and
several empty cartridges lying at the spot where Taseer was
shot.
Police also detained six other persons at the market
and took them to an undisclosed location.
Malik said providing security to the Governor was the
responsibility of the Punjab government and it was also their
responsibility to screen all those police officers who were
deputed to the security of the provincial government officials
and ministers.
When asked about a recent intelligence report which
warned that all such persons with radical and religious
backgrounds should be removed from the teams providing
security to VIPs, Malik said, "We will find out if the Punjab
government had acted on this report."
"We have lost a dear friend, great human being and a
politician of great standing today," the Interior Minister
said.
Taseer was a close aide of Zardari, who condemned the
assassination and directed Interior Minister Malik to
personally supervise the investigation into the killing and
report to him urgently.
The President was informed about the assassination
during a meeting with PPP leaders in Karachi.
Describing the crime as "most ghastly," Zardari said
no words were strong enough to condemn it. "The perpetrators
of this heinous crime must be punished," he said.
Taseer was the first to speak out against Asia's
sentencing and had vowed to ensure that the Christian woman
was pardoned.
Under the blasphemy law, any person who is accused of
making derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammad can be
sentenced to death.
Civil and Human rights activists say the law is being
used to prosecute the minorities and settle old enmities.
Taseer is survived by wife Amna and their six
children. He also has a son with noted Indian journalist
Tavleen Singh. PTI