Media’s role in Punjab Governor’s murder

SHOOTING THE MESSENGER – MEDIA’S ROLE IN GOVERNOR’S MURDER

RIP Salman Taseer (31 May 1944-04 Jan 2011), the man dubbed by his friends as the lion of Punjab and by those who despised him as a big mouth: was killed in cold blood. A man no doubt who never faltered in expressing his opinion. His jibes with the Punjab government in the past few months became juicy headlines. But it was probably the most controversial claims that incited a 26 year old police elite force recruit to pump twenty six bullets into him. The assassin’s last statement was how he avenged the soon-to-be change in the blasphemy laws. Salman Taseer’s murder underlines the strong current of religious intolerance and hatred; which the media apparently plays up. Critics I’ve spoken to argue that whether its the URS celebrations or violent protests by the clergy; the media indiscriminately gives them airtime.