He was killed by his guard Mumtaz Qadri who said it was his religious duty to kill Taseer for opposing the blasphemy laws. Taseer was advocating for the release of Aassia Bibi, a Christian woman he believed had been wrongfully imprisoned. He also called for a review of Pakistan's blasphemy laws which he believed were used to settle personal scores.

Qadri was awarded the death penalty and hanged on February 2016. His funeral was attended by hundreds of thousands of people who thought him to be a hero for killing a "blasphemer".

Aassia Bibi was released in 2018 in a landmark verdict by the Supreme Court. However, her release led to violent protests by the Tehreek i Labbaik Pakistan.

Bibi was granted asylum in Canada.

Many people took to Twitter to describe Taseer's murder as a turning point in Pakistan's history.

Others wanted to simply pay their respects and laud his courage.

One user shared an image of Taseer with late Benazir Bhutto, reminding people of the former governor's long ties with the PPP.

Another user shared an image of a vigil held in Taseer's memory in KP.

Naya Daur shared a video of a now infamous interview of Taseer by Meher Bokhari in which she goaded the late governor about his views on blasphemy.