January 4, 2011: Exactly a year from today, former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer was gunned down by one of his security guards, Mumtaz Qadri for his stance on the Blasphemy Law and support of Aasiya Bibi, a poor Christian woman who was sentenced to death by the Lahore High Court for allegedly blaspheming against the Prophet (PBUH).

Though it was argued that charges against Aasiya Bibi were false, that argument did not hold. Aasiya was guilty, as was Taseer, for lending support to her and speaking up about the Blasphemy Law. Taseer’s assassination was not denounced for what is was: cold-blooded murder. And in the days following his death, public discourse on the law came to a halt. Eventually though, dissenting voices found their way back into the public sphere, albeit amid threats and in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.

A year on, Qadri, though charged and sentenced, has yet to be punished for his crime.

Here’s a look at January 2011 and some responses to the death of the former governor:

Martyr to the Cause: Salmaan Taseer’s murder is an indicator of the growing religiosity and an extremist mindset in society.

Lone Crusader: Salmaan Taseer: Love him, hate him, take or leave him… It was impossible to ignore the larger-than-life Salmaan Taseer.

Pakistani Writers and Bloggers React to Salmaan Taseer’s Death: In this sad time for Pakistan, when justice, reason and compassion are in short supply, here are a few voices from the Pakistani blogosphere who have stood up for Salmaan Taseer’s shared values and are railing against the madness that seems to be strengthening its hold on the country.

How Will the PPP Deal with this Murderer: Today, we find the need to ask whether committing a murder is wrong. Is the ruling PPP deliberating over the same question?

Pakistan’s Real War is with the Poisonous Mindset Within: The ugliness of fundamentalist thought has become so bloody stark that it seems to have completely overtaken simple human decency and civilised actions.

Pakistani Citizens Show that this is Our Country too: Promoting the “Rally Against Fear” on Facebook, one of the citizen organisers says, “Join hands to take responsibility for your country. Come out of your homes. Show that this is our country too.”

Pakistanis Take a Stand and Leverage the Law: While the governor’s death and the reaction that has followed have instilled fear in the hearts of many, there are still people who refuse to “cower” and let the tyranny prevail.

Citizens and Political Forces Unite Against Oppression and Disinformation: Previously there were scattered voices waging the fight, alone or in small groups — mainly members of civil society. But all that has changed now. Political parties and groups, and workers unions have come together and joined hands with civil society.

Newsline covered the blasphemy law debate extensively. Below are articles and blog posts that were published. 

December 2010 

Pandora’s Law: The Blasphemy Law is a danger to all Pakistanis, but a repeal is unlikely.

Interview: Mairaj-ul-Huda Siddiqui: A top leader with a religious party defends Pakistan’s Blasphemy Law.

Interview: Salmaan Taseer: The Governor of Punjab speaks out against Pakistan’s Blasphemy Law.

Interview: Sherry Rehman: The MNA explains her proposed amendments to the Blasphemy Law.

Interview: Iqbal Haider: The lawyer and former politician argues that the most barbaric and inhumane practices are being propagated in the name of religion in Pakistan.

Interview: Dr Khalid Zaheer: A respected religious scholar discusses blasphemy and the death penalty

And here you can view some statistics that succinctly show the fatal reach of the controversial law:

Chilling Statistics on Blasphemy and the Law

February 2011 

The cover story deals with Pakistan’s growing ideological divide and asks if Jinnah’s inclusive and democratic vision of Pakistan can prevail over Zia’s theocratic vision. This comprehensive 16-page report features articles by Zahid Hussain, Khaled Ahmed, Dr Khalid Zaheer, Zohra Yusuf and Fouzia Saeed, while Rahimullah Yusufzai looks at the case of a maulana in Peshawar who got away with inciting violence and murder against ‘blasphemers.’ Also inside, you’ll find a Special Report by Farieha Aziz. In it she explores case studies on the misused Blasphemy Law, plus the origin and history of Sections 295-B and 295-C of the controversial law.

The Ideological Divide by Zahid Hussain: Will Jinnah’s vision of a democratic Pakistan prevail over Zia’s vision of a theocratic Pakistan?

I Could Be Killed Too… by Khaled Ahmed: What strategy should the liberals adopt when extremists are adopting intimidatory tactics to stop civil society from confronting them?

TV Channels or Electronic Pulpits? by Zohra Yusuf: By promoting religiosity, the media has become an ally of the mullah in spreading bigotry and intolerance.

Divided We Fall by Dr Fouzia Saeed: With civil society divided into two extreme groups, is it possible to achieve a unity of purpose among the citizens of Pakistan?

Blinded by Faith by Rahimullah Yusufzai: The maulana of a waqf-managed mosque in Peshawar exhorts people to kill the “blasphemers” and gets away with it.

In the Name of Religion: Case studies reveal the ulterior motives behind the framing of blasphemy cases against innocent individuals.

Religion or Politics?: Sections 295-B and 295-C have been misused more than any other law in the chapter on “Offences Related to Religion” in the Pakistan Penal Code. Newsline traces their origin and history.

Interview: Mansoor Raza: “Equal punishment should be given to the accuser who lodges a false FIR.”

March 2011

Another Martyr to the Cause: Extremists take the life of yet another person attempting to put a stop to the misuse of the Blasphemy Law and secure the rights of minorities.

April 2011

No Reprieve: Just over three months into the new year and already numerous blasphemy cases, murders and acts of vigilantism on religious grounds have been reported.

Interview: Ali Dayan Hasan of Human Rights Watch: “Minorities are collateral damage in the battle for Pakistan’s soul.”

October 2011

Will Qadri’s Death Sentence Be His End?: Handing down a death sentence may stop one man, but it will not stop the mindset that the remorseless murderer represents.

Justice at Last? How was the Law Upheld and Scorned?: In a confusing frenzy in which Qadri was labelled ‘Ashiq-e-Rasool‘ and Taseer’s murder was justified on the grounds of his ‘un-Islamic’ character and lifestyle, it is impossible not to be shocked by the attitude custodians of our justice system have adopted.