Tell us about your foray into the family business prior to your unfortunate captivity. How did your role as a businessman began? There is nothing unfortunate in being held captive because your father was a brave man and stood up against tyranny. I look at my captivity with a great sense of pride. I was strong for my family and I took anything and everything they threw at me for my father’s legacy. “How can a man die better than facing fearful odds, for the honour of his father and the temple of his gods?” My father taught us this, which are the words we live by. I joined my family business in 2008 during a financial crisis so what I can say is that my brother and I started right from the bottom! No perks, just solid hard work and a very demanding boss. But those two to three years with my father taught us and equipped us for the rest of our lives. Growing up, what profession did you want to undertake and what was that one thing which you felt the most passionate about? Growing up obviously I wanted to be just like my dad! I remember as a young boy being very upset about my father always being in jail but he told me that some of us have to stand up for what’s right. It’s a very difficult road but one that we must walk upon. As I grew older, my father distanced himself from politics and focused more on his entrepreneurial skills and that’s when I realised what a complete man he was! He was a strong and honest politician and a very intelligent, forward thinking businessman. He started the Internet TV revolution in Pakistan, he set up newspapers and channels and he had the first public limited real estate company in Pakistan, amongst many other things. He was also as I mentioned a very tough boss and a very demanding father; two demands, however hard, that my brother and I enjoyed living up to. So from a very young age, I started doing summer internships with Abba. No pay, just quality time as he used to say! But I learnt a sense of responsibility from being a part of these businesses and that you must be passionate about any responsibility. As soon as I was done with college, I joined Pace Pakistan, which is one of our group’s companies and focused on the real estate side of our businesses. Being the eldest of the siblings, did you ever feel a sense of responsibility of maintaining a calm disposition for your younger siblings at the time of your father’s passing? Of course! My family is everything to me. But I must confess, I have never felt as helpless as I did on January 4, 2011. Not just as a human being or a son but for the first time as a Pakistani. I had to tell my mother and siblings that my father had passed away and I spent a long time questioning myself why it had to be me? To this day it was the hardest thing I ever had to do and I wish no son has to do it but I also swore at my father’s grave that I would do everything I could to protect my family. I will always be passionate about that promise and responsibility. What was the one thing that helped you deal with this irreparable loss? Nothing can help you deal with a life without a parent. Anyone who has lost someone will tell you that it’s almost like a piece of your heart as it can never be replaced. But my family, my wife, my daughter, friends and my father’s memory help heal that void. My father made me read Mandela’s memoir. One line in it always stayed with me which is ‘As I walked out the door towards the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.’ Experiences make you stronger and wiser. Accept them and move forward How was your relationship with your father? What qualities and attributes do you think you have taken after him? We were like friends unless he was angry. But when I needed my father he was there. When I needed a friend, a confidant, anything, he was there in every capacity! He honestly was one of the most extraordinary men I ever had the privilege to know. And most people that know him will tell you that. Obviously I’ve inherited a few qualities. His good looks and Twitter trolling skills are evident and let’s not forget patience! What has been the most challenging ordeal in your life? Your captivity or dealing with your father’s passing? Both were equally challenging and yet I can’t draw a comparison. What I would say is that I would go back a 1,000 times if my father would come back once. Do you think you have a spiritual connection more within yourself now as compared to before? In what ways do you think you have grown or evolved as a person? I’m a lot more spiritual than before. I read all the quls and Ayatul Kursi before getting on a PIA flight but jokes aside I think it’s impossible to go through what I have been through and not be close to Allah. At every difficult point in my life, He protected me, answered my prayers and showed me countless miracles. You have to be a thankless human being to not submit yourself to His mercy. And that submission on its own completely changes you as a person. What is the one thing that you have learned the hard way in life? No matter what they tell you, Molty Foam is irreplaceable. Did you ever lose hope during the harshness of captivity? What kept you going? I lost hope a couple of times but luckily for me there was no one there to pick me up and tell me everything will be alright. I had to do that myself and that made me arrogant for freedom. I also realised the value of hope. You must never lose hope because God is with the patient. Is it hard to recall everything that you went through or do you think you have moved on from the harrowing experience? My father made me read Nelson Mandela’s memoir on a flight from Bangkok to Lahore. One line in it always stayed with me. “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.” Experiences make you stronger and wiser. Accept them and move forward. What according to you has been your biggest achievement until now? My daughter Serena Amy Taseer. What is your vision for Pakistan and what does it mean to be Pakistani for you? My vision for Pakistan is the same as Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It’s the same as Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and it’s the same as my late father and the millions of Pakistanis that have suffered at the hands of political, social or religious persecution. We want a tolerant Pakistan for all Pakistanis; a just and fare constitution that does not allow any man made law to persecute any human being. Describe a typical day in the life of Shahbaz Taseer. Monday is the worst day to ask that question. I’m trying to watch episode three of ‘Game of Thrones’ and this interview has set me back a couple of hours. We at Daily Times consider you one of our national heroes. Who are some of yours? I’m honoured, but considering that the founder of this newspaper is my father and the publisher is my brother, I’ll take that with a small spoon of humbleness, I was lucky to grow up in my parents’ house so I have many heroes like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr, Napoleon Bonaparte, Muhammad Ali, Benazir Bhutto, Mukhtara Mai and someone new one that I’m very proud of is Malala Yousafzai. I also look up to my friend Ali Haider Gillani because like me he has suffered and lost years of his life but he has come out gracefully and strong. What qualities and attributes would you want to instil in your daughter more than anything else? I want my daughter to be whoever and whatever she can be but I will try to teach her about her grandfather and what an amazing man he was! I want her to know about strong women in Pakistan that inspire me everyday like Asma Jahangir and Mukhtara Mai; women like Asia Bibi who are still rotting in jail because the people in power cower to pressure; women like Sabeen Mahmud, Khadija Siddiqui and Malala Yousafzai who by the way I think are just one of the most amazing people of our time. No pressure Serena! Achievements A BRAVER & STRONGER VERSION OF HIMSELF Late Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer’s son Shahbaz Taseer was held captive by militants for almost five years, and kept in the most harrowing of conditions, however the brave son of the soil has come out of the ordeal braver, stronger and more resilient than he ever was. A SPIRITUAL & RELIGIOUS CONNECTIONShahbaz Taseer rediscovered his spiritual connection with God at times he felt lost and hopeless throughout his captivity. He feels closer to God more than ever and looks back with gratitude when he felt protected by God in the worst of circumstances. A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERAfter Shahbaz returned home and was free of captivity, he was invited on various prestigious international platforms to talk about his tough experiences and what he learnt from them, coming out stronger and braver than before. He is now a role model for many who look up to him for his acts of bravery and resilience. A DOTING FATHERShahbaz is a liberal father who aims to give his daughter wings so she grows up to be whoever she wants to be and also instil a sense of pride in her by educating her about his father’s massive achievements and his brave stance against tyranny. Published in Daily Times, August 2nd 2017.