The Tiny Minority of Extremistsâ„¢ seems to be fully in the driver’s seat in Pakistan. “Slain Punjab Governor Taseer laid to rest in Lahore,” by M Zulqernain for the Press Trust of India, January 5 (thanks to Ravi):
Lahore, Jan 5 (PTI) Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer, who was assassinated by his extremist bodyguard for opposing the controversial blasphemy law, was laid to rest with full state honours in this eastern Pakistani city today amid tight security….
The funeral prayer at the Governor’s House, scheduled for 1 pm local time, was delayed by almost an hour as several clerics reportedly refused to lead it following a call by an influential Islamic body.
Afzal Chishti, a leader of the ulema (clerics) wing of the ruling PPP led the ‘namaz-e-janaza’ or funeral prayer.
The imam of Lahore’s Shahi Masjid and the cleric of the mosque at Governor’s House refused to lead the prayer, sources said.