United Nations: The international community has strongly condemned the assassination of the Governor of Pakistan's Punjab province calling it a blow to the country.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday condemned the assassination of the governor of
Pakistan's Punjab province calling it a major setback for the militancy-ridden country.
"The secretary general condemns the assassination today of the governor of Punjab province," said UN spokesman Martin Nesirky.
Ban called the governor "a prominent leader whose death is a loss for Pakistan."
Meanwhile, British Foreign Minister William Hague said he was shocked by the assassination of the
governor of Pakistan's Punjab province, adding that it was
loss to the leadership of the country.
Salman Taseer was shot dead at an Islamabad market by
a bodyguard who was opposed to the politician's criticism of
controversial blasphemy laws, officials said, plunging
nuclear-armed Pakistan deeper into chaos.
"I am shocked to hear of the assassination of Salman Taseer," Hague said in a statement.
"His death will be a loss to the leadership of
Pakistan. On behalf of the British government I send my condolences to Mr Taseer's family, friends and colleagues."
Yvette Cooper, foreign affairs spokeswoman for the
opposition Labour party, called on the British government to
support Pakistan as it faces challenges including Islamic
militancy and recovery from devastating floods last year.
"I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Salman
Taseer and strongly condemn this attack," she said.
Britain, the former colonial power in South Asia, has
a large ethnic Pakistani community.
In September Pakistani politician Imran Farooqi was
shot dead in London.
The United States, which is in a sometimes troubled security alliance with Pakistan in its fight against Islamist insurgents in Afghanistan, said that his killing was a "great loss".
"He was committed to helping the government and people of Pakistan persevere in their campaign to bring peace and stability to their country," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.
Farooqi was a member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement
(MQM), which at the weekend pulled out as the junior coalition
partner of the government led by the Pakistan People's Party
(PPP), of which Taseer was a member.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, January 05, 2011, 15:04