After Taseer, Sherry Rehman next target of Taliban

Praising the commando of Pakistan's elite force Mumtaz Qadri for assassinating Punjab Governor Salaam Taseer, the Taliban warned that all those who opposed the blasphemy law would meet a similar fate.

Angered by the governor's opposition to a controversial blasphemy law, Qadri shot him in a market as Islamabad on Tuesday. The blasphemy law was introduced by Pakistani military ruler General Muhammad Zia-ul Haq in 1980s.

Under the law, anyone who speaks ill of Islam and the Prophet Mohammad commits a crime and faces the death penalty but activists say the vague terminology has led to its misuse.

Only recently, Pakistan People's Party leader and former information minister Sherry Rehman submitted a bill in the national assembly to amend the blasphemy law.

Talking about amendment in the law TTP spokesperson Ihsanullah Ihsan said, "Our next target is Sherry Rehman who introduced the bill to the Parliament She wants to make amendments in religion. Other politicians who supported this move are also on our radar. All secular lawmakers and politicians should know that we monitor their activities and we can target them any time."

Ihsan added, "Mumtaz Qadri, the killer of Salman Taseer is hero for all the Muslims. He has encouraged Muslims around the world and Taliban appreciates his efforts. He gave a message to the world that whoever insulted the Prophet would not be spared."

The Taliban spokesperson criticised those who attended Taseer's funeral. "Under Islamic law no one should offer prayers at a funeral." Allama Afzal Chisti of Ulema Wing of PPP led the funeral prayers on Wednesday.

Pakistan's anti-blasphemy law has been in the spotlight since November when a court sentenced a Christian mother of four to death, in a case that has exposed deep rifts in the troubled Muslim nation.

Image: Pakistan People's Party leader and former information minister Sherry Rehman | Photograph: Faisal Mahmood/Reuters