Lahore: January 4, 2011. (PCP) The youngest Muslim Councillor in the UK, Cllr Raza Anjum has condemned the assassination of the Governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer and has described him as a ‘brave person who fought for justice, equality and a progressive Pakistan.’ Mr Taseer, a senior member of the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP), was shot in a popular shopping district of Islamabad, by one of his own security guards, angered by the governor's support of a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy. Mr Taseer had recently spoken out against the country's blasphemy law, prompting protests by Islamists. Councillor Raza Anjum, who is compiling a report on the role of minority groups living in Pakistan for the British Foreign Office and the European Union, held an officially meeting with the late Salman Taseer less than a week ago. During the two hour long meeting, Anjum said the Governor had told him that he had met with Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian convicted of blasphemy, despite strong opposition from religious clerics. The Governor stated that he was undeterred by the fact that a fatwa had been issued against him for his activities and highlighted that the founder of Pakistan, Mohammed Ali Jinnah was also given a fatwa. The Governor also said that ‘one needs to be determined and brave in standing up for human rights’ and that ‘the religious extremists were not in a majority.’ He stated that ‘the extremists aim to install fear in the minds of the people’ and that he was ‘prepared to stand up to them to help bring about a progressive and peaceful Pakistan.’ During the meeting, The Governor stated that after his bold step in visiting Asia Bibi in jail, many members of civil society felt emboldened to publicly campaign for the rights of minorities. He also emphasised that the ‘white in the Pakistani flag represents minorities’ and that they are a key element in the state of Pakistan. Commenting, Councillor Raza Anjum stated that ‘the assassination of Salman Taseer is a huge blow to all those who are working for an enlightened and progressive Pakistan.’ ‘He was a champion of human rights issues and a vocal critic of religious extremism.’ Councillor Raza Anjum who has been engaging in a busy round of shuttle diplomacy to push for the protection of minority groups living in Pakistan, has met with top Government officials, opposition leaders and senior bureaucrats. He is due to give his fact finding report on the position of minority groups to the British Foreign Office and European Union in the coming days. The assassination of Salman Taseer once again highlights Pakistan's unending troubles. He was a high-profile leader of the PPP, and was governor of the country's largest province, Punjab. His death has left the country in shock at a time when it faces an imminent political crisis. The PPP has said it will observe two weeks of mourning over the assassination of Mr Taseer. Pakistan has seen a wave of attacks by Islamists in recent years, including the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.