Business activities in major Punjab cities were suspended immediately with tragic assassination of Governor Punjab Salman Taseer, as the PPP workers took out violent protests and tried to cause damage to property across the province. Particularly, the party workers took out violent protests in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Sialkot, Gujranwala and other important cities, leading to immediate closure of markets on important roads of these cities.
Reports regarding tragic killing spread like fire in the jungle and cell phones were found busy as the party workers were calling each other to know about the latest developments. The party workers burnt tyres and raised slogans in favour of the PPP, President Asif Ali Zardari besides paying tribute to the slain Governor Punjab Salman Taseer. Emotional party workers kept on weeping on the tragic incident and protested against the killing.
Security was beefed up across the province and police patrolling scaled up in major cities all across the Punjab. The party workers assembled in front of the Governor House Punjab and protested against the tragic killing of former Governor Punjab Salman Taseer. They also criticised the Punjab government for poor law and order state of affairs in the province.
It may be noted that the PPP was all set to mark the birthday of late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto on 5th January 2011 but the party cancelled all party activities forthwith. The traffic police and law enforcement agencies blocked the Mall Road from both sides leading to the Governor House. There was a strong panic among people across the city and the traders rushed to their homes safely after closing their shops immediately. Also, all-important functions at the hotels adjacent to the Governor House were also cancelled.
However, there was not serious threat to the public safety, as majority of the party leaders requested party workers for peaceful protests. The party workers also assembled in front of the residence of former Governor Salman Taseer at the Cavalry Ground where the provincial leadership of the party was visiting one after another. The party workers also protested against the killing of Governor Salman Taseer and vowed to take the mission of Bhutto ahead while sacrificing one after another.