Top Pakistan Official Killed By His Own Guard

The governor of Pakistan's powerful Punjab province has been killed by one of his own guards at a market in the capital Islamabad, police have said.

   

Salman Taseer pictured in Islamabad in 2009

It was the most high-profile assassination of a political figure in the Britan since former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was killed in December 2007.

The latest victim, Salman Taseer, was shot dead by a member of his elite security team after he reached Khosar Market, police said.

Witnesses reportedly claimed a man fired two shots at the governor as he was leaving his vehicle.

One said: "The governor fell down and the man who fired at him threw down his gun and raised both hands."

The suspect was taken into custody following the shooting at the shopping center, which is popular with Westerners and wealthy Pakistanis.

Five other people were wounded as security personnel reacted to the incident.

It is not known if the assailant was injured.

The governor meets a woman sentenced to death for blasphemy

Mr Taseer was a high-profile member of Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party and a close associate of President Asif Ali Zardari, Ms Bhutto's widower.

He was vocal on a range of subjects, including speaking out against the country's blasphemy law in recent days.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik claimed the governor was probably killed because he opposed that law.

Human rights groups say the legislation is often exploited by religious extremists as well as ordinary Pakistanis to settle personal scores.

Islamist groups have been angry over what they believe were government plans to change or scrap the law.

They have defended the controversial legislation and slammed those who were against it.

 Plain clothed policemen survey the site where the governor was killed

o