Political Weight

The governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province was shot dead by one of his own bodyguards yesterday. The governor, Salman Taseer, a senior member of the Pakistan People’s Party, backed changing the blasphemy laws. He was opposed by hardline Muslims because he appealed for the pardon of a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy.

Reynaldo Dagsa, 35, had been taking a picture of his family on New Year's Day when Michael Gonzales - whose arrest Dagsa had ordered for stealing cars - stepped out from behind a car, took aim and fired. The left-hand portion of the photograph, seen here, shows how the killer came from behind a parked car to take aim at the politician. The gunman, also known by the underworld name of Fubo of Fish Pond Area was arrested soon afterwards when the district councilor’s wife, daughter and another female relative handed the camera to police. Dagsa had also photographed his killer's accomplice, seen lurking in the background. The gunman's accomplice, Rommel Oliva, photo right, watches Gonzales taking aim, the muzzle of his pistol highlighted by the camera flash. The main suspect, car thief out on bail, took revenge against Dagsa for ordering his arrest last year. The Gun rules in most Philippines cities and not a day goes by without someone being shot dead. Hired assassins are also on the loose, usually riding as pillion riders on motor bikes, their faces covered by visors. They pull alongside a victim's car, shoot him – and then ride off into the thick traffic. Cameras!!! Take One. And……