Human rights groups call upon Pak, Punjab Govts for early recovery of Shahbaz Taseer

Islamabad, August 27(ANI): Human rights activists and organisations in Pakistan and abroad have called upon the federal and the Punjab governments to investigate the abduction of Shahbaz Taseer and ensure his speedy recovery.

Shahbaz, the son of slain former Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer, was abducted on gunpoint by unknown men from Lahore's Gulburg area on Friday.

In a statement, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said: "HRCP is alarmed by the abduction of Shahbaz Taseer, which highlights the government's inability to afford security and protection even to those known to be at high risk. Such brazen crimes reflect a general deterioration of law and order and add to the sense of insecurity that the people have now grown accustomed to."

"If those assigned special security are not safe from being snatched in broad daylight in the heart of the country's second most populous city, the lot of the common person is not that difficult to imagine. While it is too early to speculate about the abductors' motives, the HRCP calls upon the government to ensure that Shahbaz is recovered speedily and his abductors are held to account," it added.

In January, Shahbaz's father- Salmaan Taseer- a liberal politican, was shot dead by one of his own bodyguard for championing the case of Aasia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who was sentenced to death last November for allegedly committing blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.

"This family has already suffered too much, and given the security threats directed towards them in the aftermath of governor Taseer's death, this kidnapping underscores the failing writ of the state and its inability to provide security even to those known to be at a high risk," the Daily Times quoted the Human Rights Watch (HRW), as saying in a press release.

Centre for Human Rights Education (CHRE) Director Samson Salamat also condemned the abduction of Shahbaz Taseer, and said it was a matter of grave concern that despite open threats by religious extremists, the government and its security apparatus had failed to protect the son of late governor Salmaan Taseer, who had given his life to protect religious tolerance and social harmony in the country.

"The abduction of Shahbaz Taseer is another evidence of religious extremism and the negligence of the state security apparatus to curb it. We demand that the government and the state institutions should take immediate measures for the recovery of Shahbaz Taseer and the protection of other members of his family and stern action should be taken against the perpetrators," he added. (ANI)