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Governor Punjab Salman Taseer has been laid to rest at Shuhda Cemetery, Cavalry Ground Lahore. The funeral ceremony of Governor Salman Taseer was held earlier at Governor's House, on Wednesday. Allama Afzal Chishti, General Secretary Ulema wing of PPPs Punjab chapter, offered the funeral prayer of the assassinated Governor.Earlier, funeral prayers for his eternal peace were offered at Governor House attended by thousands of people including government officials, political leaders and other renowned persons from every walk of life.President Asif Ali Zardari sent a sheet of flowers to be laid on Taseers body. It should be mentioned here that Zardari dispatched Faryal Talpur to represent him through the last religious rituals of Governor Taseer.After funeral, his body was brought to Cavalry Ground on board a helicopter. Government high-ups also arrived at the cemetery aboard another helicopter. A Punjab Police contingent gave final salute to Punjab Governor Taseer at Cavalry Ground. Taseers body was wrapped up in national flag.Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Railway Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Senate Chairman Farooq.H Naek, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Water&Power Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Information Minister Qamaruz Zaman Kaira, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Sindh CM Qaim Ali Shah, Law Minister Babar Awan, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, State Minister Samsam Bukhari, Latif Khosa advocate, and a large number of PPP followers were among those attended the funeral. Leaders of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) including Hyder Abbas Rizvi, Babar Ghauri, Wasay Jalil, Raza Haroon and Saif Yar Khan were also present in the funeral.Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) leaders included Malik Nadeem Kamran and Haji Ehsanud Din Qureshi were also present at Governor House.Khurshid Kasuri, Ghulam Mustafa Khar and Aitezaz Ahsan also attended the funeral. Various foreign diplomats also came to attend funeral at Governor House.The national flag is flying at half mast all important places and government buildings and offices, as the federal government yesterday declared three-day mourning in mourning over the assassination of Governor Taseer.Moving scenes were witnessed at the Governor House as the PPP followers and supporters chanted slogans for the deceased while holding PPPs flag. Around 4, 000 policemen were deployed to maintain law and order across the city. Salman Taseers body wrapped in National Flag will be laid to rest with full state honour. Governor Punjab Salman Taseer was shot and killed by his security guard in Kohsar Market of Sector F-6 in Islamabad, Dunya News reported on Tuesday. The Punjab Governor was shot dead by his bodyguard while he was walking back to his home after having lunch in F 6 Sector Islamabad. Taseer received 27 bullet shots in his chest and face. He was shifted to Polyclinic in a police van where he succumbed to his injuries. His dead body was shifted to PIMS Islamabad for post mortem. According to post mortem report, Taseer was struck with 27 bullets in his body but his heart remained saved. A bullet that hit his neck caused death, the report added. The report said a sub machine gun was used in the attack. On Tuesday night, his dead body was brought to Lahore on a C-130 airplane, and shifted to his residence at Cavalry Ground. Dead bodys autopsy was conducted at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.PM Gilani has announced three-day mourning and canceled all activities during the period, while Punjab government announced holiday on Wednesday (today) in the province to mourn Salmans murder. The killer named Mumtaz Qadri has confessed that he killed the Governor due to his open support for blasphemy convict Aasia Bibi. Religious parties strongly resist any changes in the blasphemy laws. Effigies of Salman Taseer were burnt in countrywide protests last week. World denounces Taseers assassinationThe assassination of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer has been condemned worldwide. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday condemned the assassination of the governor of Pakistan's Punjab province, calling his death a great loss. We strongly condemn the assassination today in Pakistan of Punjab Provincial Governor Salman Taseer, Clinton said in a statement.I had the opportunity to meet Governor Taseer in Pakistan and I admired his work to promote tolerance and the education of Pakistan's future generations. His death is a great loss, the chief US diplomat said.Our deepest sympathies are with Governor Taseer's wife and children, she added.France on Tuesday condemned the assassination of the governor of Pakistan's Punjab province, hailing him as a man known for his courage in defending democratic institutions.France firmly condemns the assassination on Tuesday of the governor of Punjab Salman Taseer. Governor Taseer was a political personality of the highest order, deputy foreign ministry spokeswoman Christine Fages said.The United States said Tuesday that the assassination of the governor of Pakistan's Punjab province, Salman Taseer, was a great loss because he was trying to stabilize his country.US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will offer Washington's condolences to Hussain Haqqani, the Pakistani ambassador to Washington, when she meets him later Tuesday, State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.From our standpoint, his death is a great loss. He was committed to helping the government and people of Pakistan persevere in their campaign to bring peace and stability to their country, he added.US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter has expressed his deep grief and condolences over the assassination of Governor Punjab Salman Taseer.I am deeply saddened by the assassination of Governor Taseer. On behalf of the United States, I offer my condolences to his wife and children, said Cameron Munter.Speaking about the assassination of Salman Taseer, Ambassador Munter said, He had the courage of his convictions and was a champion of tolerance. His death is a great loss to the people of Pakistan, says a US Embassy press release issued here Tuesday.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday condemned the assassination of the governor of Pakistan's Punjab province calling it a blow to the country.The secretary general condemns the assassination today of the governor of Punjab province, said UN spokesman Martin Nesirky. The official, Salman Taseer, was shot dead by a bodyguard opposed to his criticism of blasphemy laws.Ban called the governor a prominent leader whose death is a loss for Pakistan.
