-
![Women sell bread in Ashgabat May 21. Although bread is a prominent component of Turkmen meals, the new healthy food programme will teach them about other vital dietary components. [Dzhumaguly Annayev]](/shared/images/2013/05/24/tmhealth-88_70.jpg?1369394104)
Turkmenistan adopts healthy food programme
-
![Turkey's President Abdullah Gul, right, shakes hands with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai during a ceremony at the Presidential Palace of Cankaya in Ankara December 12, 2012. Turkey is committed to helping Afghanistan promote peace even after Turkish aid workers were captured in Afghanistan. [REUTERS]](/shared/images/2013/05/24/setturkey-88_70.jpg?1369394104)
Turkey maintains role in Afghanistan
-
![A medic administers polio vaccine to a child in Bajaur Agency, Pakistan, in April as a security guard looks on. The World Health Organisation has detected only two polio cases in the tribal areas since September. [Ashfaq Yusufzai]](/shared/images/2013/05/24/pakpolio-88_70.jpg?1369394104)
FATA could be polio-free by end of 2013, officials say
-
![Men with weapons stolen from arsenals are shown during anti-government riots in Bishkek in April 2010. Kyrgyzstan is trying not only to regain those weapons but also to tighten firearm regulations. [Dmitry Motinov]](/shared/images/2013/05/23/kgarms-88_70.jpg?1369312804)
Kyrgyzstan considers tighter firearm regulations
Pakistan, Islam face danger from Islamists
Security arrangement not at fault in Taseer’s death, daughter says
By Qasim Yousafzai
2011-06-28
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Islam’s greatest threat comes from those who claim to be serving it – extremist militants, Shehrbano Taseer, daughter of slain Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, said June 27.
-
![Shehrbano Taseer, daughter of slain Pakistani Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer, speaks at a panel discussion at UN European headquarters in Geneva March 8. Islamists endanger Pakistan and Islam, she said in a speech in Washington, D.C., June 27. [REUTERS/Denis Balibouse]](/shared/images/2011/06/28/pakshehrbano-218_172.jpg)
Shehrbano Taseer, daughter of slain Pakistani Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer, speaks at a panel discussion at UN European headquarters in Geneva March 8. Islamists endanger Pakistan and Islam, she said in a speech in Washington, D.C., June 27. [REUTERS/Denis Balibouse]
![Shehrbano Taseer, daughter of slain Pakistani Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer, speaks at a panel discussion at UN European headquarters in Geneva March 8. Islamists endanger Pakistan and Islam, she said in a speech in Washington, D.C., June 27. [REUTERS/Denis Balibouse]](/shared/images/2011/06/28/pakshehrbano.jpg)
Shehrbano said that militants, whom she repeatedly called “hate mongers,” have misinterpreted Islam. “Islam is a peaceful religion,” she said.
Her father died for “a progressive Pakistan and moderate Islam, she said. In a speech titled “My Father Died for Pakistan” at the Middle East Institute in Washington, she called extremism a mindset that poses a great danger to Pakistan.
Shehrbano expressed the hope militants would not ultimately succeed by killing individuals like her father, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Shahbaz Bhatti, but warned, “The militants are successful now.”
Taseer was killed in Islamabad January 4, allegedly by a bodyguard angered by Taseer’s opposition to the country’s controversial blasphemy law.
Bhutto was assassinated in Rawalpindi December 27, 2007. Bhatti, federal minister for minorities and the sole Christian in the cabinet, was killed by unknown militants in Islamabad March 2, allegedly over his criticism of the blasphemy law.
Talking about the country’s blasphemy law, Shehrbano said, “The law is not a protector of religions … These laws deserve to be criticised.” Courts have sentenced a large number of defendants under that law, she said.
Regarding her father’s death, Shehrbano refused to attribute it to a security lapse even though a bodyguard is the alleged assassin.
“You don’t know who your enemy is anymore,” she said.
Fighting extremism
Pakistani madrassas are teaching religious intolerance and gun violence, she said. An entire generation is growing up with a violent jihadi mindset, she added.
“Pakistan is fighting the militancy and operations are going on, but no counter-extremism measures can be seen on the ground,” Shehrbano said.
She urged strict steps to deal with that violent mentality and strengthening of Pakistani democracy. “Moderation, inclusion and progression is the need of every society,” she said. Moderates in Pakistan need to reclaim the public sphere, she said.
The international community can help Pakistan by offering a counter-narrative to extremism in addition to weapons to combat terrorists, she said. The government, for its part, should strive to create economic opportunities for the people and work to reform madrassas, she added.
Social media can raise awareness and generate discourse on containing violent trends, she said, calling an uninterrupted process of democracy vital.
Special Reports
Poll
Extremist ideology/propaganda is a rising and significant threat to my region.
Photo of the Day
![A potter puts the final touches on an earthen flowerpot before sending it to the kiln for baking in Peshawar May 22. [Zahir Shah]](/shared/images/2013/05/24/pakpot-230_184.jpg?1369394104)
A potter puts the final touches on an earthen flowerpot before sending it to the kiln for baking in Peshawar May 22. [Zahir Shah]
-
Donolik bilan zakot ber (00:38) -
Where is your zakat going? (00:31) -
Donate wisely (00:38) -
-
Innocent Victims (00:32) -
Collateral Damage (01:21)
Most Popular
Reader Comments
the taliban should stop violence and stop the blame game that is being played time and again.
Taliban urged to stop election violenceKanwar
People had voted for change. Now the new Government in the country will bring the change. They had performed good in the past, for sure the will perform well now too. PML N Zindabad, Pakistan Zindabad. The corrept people has been packed by the people. This time superior court has played a ver...
Young voters bring energy to Pakistani electionaamirjoyia
We need more vote for Pakistan and it is possible with education, there is no meaning of Pakistan other than reading and writing
Pakistani democracy defeats Taliban
Post a Comment ( Comment Policy )
Reader Comments
Mohamad Mokhtar Bashar Doost, Readers' comments: I feel sympathy toward him. But I want to ask him to take some steps, in order to improve his suggestions. He should actively participate in the war on terror. It is not the time to only comment. Please join those people who are trying to save Pakistan, Islam, and the future generations. I am so sorry for his father; but does he also feel sorry for those innocent people who are killed by the ignorance of the people such as his father?!
I have all the sympathies for her but may I request her to take some steps as suggested by her. She should be proactively involved in fighting the menace of terrorism. Time for just making the statements has elapsed. Please join those who are striving to save Pakistan, Islam and the coming generations. I feel sorrow for her father but does she also feel the same way about those innocent people who died because of negligence shown by so many like his father.
there are many others like taseer who are still yelling moderate nd progressive islam.their life style , so called culture nd immense wealth do not allow them to follow true spirit of islam. they will always propogate in the language their masters understands.they will always talk about modern islam with wich uncle sam can sit and have breakfast.
As far as her father\'s act of giving so much honor to Aasiya bibi was concerned, i consider him very wrong.But by no means it justifies his murder.Unfortunately, we are rapidly heading towards two extremesb.on one hand there are ppl who consider that violence is the only way to impliment God\'s rules on Earth,while on the other we have some who are totally unaware of Islamic rules and values.there\'s nothing like a \'Moderate Islam\' or \'extremist Islam\'. Islam is a complete code of life and that\'s it! it tells you how to spend your life. What\'s the point in arguing over What \'type\' of Islam we want?
she and her father doesn\'t know any thing about Islam... no one talks about his father in Pakistan...because he and his family doesn\'t know what is ISLAM and its real values....
Salam, in order to save Pakistan the media will have to back truth.
Shaherbano is right. These fundamentalist are preaching violent Islam . They are supporting the propaganda of west that Islam spread through sword.. No body has right to declare his fellow Muslim as infidel..Allah is the best judge..only He would decide the sincerity of faith in Him.. No body has right to claim his brand of Islam as genuine .
She and her Father don\'t know anything about ISLAM... These so called ABCDz (American Borne Confused Daises are actually culprit... One can never become a Muslim unless until he/ she doesn\'t love Prophet Mohammad SALLAHAO ALAYE HE WASALM... ppl have seen pictures of her in bikini and partying with guys in pool and as cheer leader wearing skirts and shorts... her father was a drinker and he was killed due to blasphemy... no one in Pakistan like to talk about him and his family....
UN will only invite such hypocrates and conducts under table talks with Taliban to stop killing Americans. Salman Taseer was sure to be killed because of his statements that take him away from Islamic boundries. So his family member seems to be so as Ms. Sherbano is talking. Cheap way for Ms Sherbano to earn fame.
somebody tell this girl to stop yapping
is there not an option to UNLIKE whats this girl says?!
salman tasir ki daughter bakwas kar rahi hai islam,s greatest threat comes those who are munafiq for example salman taseer,s daughter shehrbano