Salmaan Taseer: 1946-2011

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

LAHORE: Salmaan Taseer was born on June 12, 1946 to Dr Din Muhammad Taseer, who was the first Muslim in the Indian Subcontinent to earn a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in English Literature and had a close association with great Muslim leaders like Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal.

Salmaan Taseer joined politics in his student life and became part of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in the 1960s. He was appointed as federal minister for industries, production and special initiatives in the caretaker cabinet of Muhammad Mian Soomro in November 2007.

He, later on, replaced Lt Gen ® Khalid Maqbool as Punjab Governor on May 15, 2008.

He was a part of the movement for Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s freedom and opposed his arrest and death sentence. He also wrote a political biography on Bhutto, entitled “Bhutto: A Political Biography”, in 1980.

Taseer won the general elections in 1988 and became a member of the Punjab Assembly from Lahore while serving as deputy opposition leader. He also contested the National Assembly’s general elections of 1990, 1993 and 1997.

He married Aamna Taseer and had six children, namely Maryam, Shehryar, Shahbaz, Sara, Sanam and Shehr Bano.

Taseer was known to be one of the trusted aides of former slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto and a strong critic of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led incumbent government in Punjab.

Being a pioneer of the Media Times limited, which comprises Daily Times, Aaj Kal, Business Plus and Zaiqa TV, he remained active for the promotion of tolerance and protection of human rights in the country.

Salmaan Taseer also proved himself as one of the best businessmen the country had ever produced, by running several successful businesses, including a chartered accountancy firm, after obtaining his degree in the same subject from a university in London.

He also led a private telecommunication business, and was the CEO of the World Call and First Capital Group.

Taseer was also close to progressive intellectuals, like Faiz Ahmed Faiz. He had reportedly been a class fellow of PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif in the Saint Anthony’s School, Lahore.