ISLAMABAD/LAHORE - President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and leaders of various political parties were shocked over the assassination of Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer in Federal Capital on Tuesday. Both the President and Prime Minister have directed Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik to personally supervise the investigation and furnish report to them at the earliest. Both the President and Prime Minister have also cancelled their routine engagements. It was further directed by President Zardari to all the party chapters to limit the festivities arranged by the party in connection with the 83rd birth anniversary of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to seminars. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has announced three days mourning and national flag would remain at half-mast at all state buildings. The Prime Minister has also ordered state funeral for late Salmaan Taseer. He will be laid to rest with full state honour. Meanwhile, Central Information Secretary of Pakistan Peoples Party Fouzia Wahab informed that PPP Co-Chairman President Asif Ali Zardari has directed for cancellation of all the party activities for two weeks and there would be two weeks mourning. She has termed the assassination of Governor Salmaan Taseer the reflection of Taliban mindset and said that the Pakistan Peoples Party was striving to save the country from this type of extreme tendency. Talking to The Nation Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that the President was informed about the tragic assassination during a meeting of the PPP MPAs of four districts at Bilawal House after which all the meetings scheduled for the day were postponed to a later date. The President also directed the party leadership that the birthday functions in connection with Zulfikar Ali Bhuttos 83rd birth anniversary on Wednesday be limited only to holding of seminars at district, divisional and provincial levels without fanfare and without cake cutting ceremonies. Quran Khwani for Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Salmaan Taseer will also be held on Wednesday as part of the birth anniversary functions of the partys founding chairman, he said. The President also directed Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and MNA Faryal Talpur to participate in the funeral on his behalf. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will also participate in the funeral. Describing the assassination as a 'most ghastly crime the President said that no words were strong enough to condemn it. The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be punished, he said. Paying tributes to the late Governor the President said that Salmaan Taseer was endowed with great courage and energy who employed his gifted qualities in the service of the province and the country. He faced the vicissitudes of life with composure, resilience and courage, the President said. Condoling the death, the President also prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in peace and give courage to members of the bereaved family to bear the loss with fortitude. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has also expressed deep grief and sorrow over the assassination of Salmaan Taseer, Governor of Punjab in a market in Islamabad Tuesday afternoon. The Prime Minister talked to the President Asif Ali Zardari on telephone and apprised him of the sad incident. He also contacted to the family members of Salmaan Taseer on telephone and expressed his heartfelt condolences. The Prime Minister appealed to the workers and supporters of his party to remain calm so that proper investigation could be conducted. The Prime Minister was informed about the attempt on the life of Governor Punjab when he was on the Motorway near Chakari, coming back to Islamabad from Lahore by road because of fog. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has cancelled all his engagements, including the briefing to parliamentary leaders of different political parties on petroleum prices, because of the tragic assassination of the Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer. The leaders of various political parties in the Parliament called on the Prime Minister to express their heartfelt condolences. They expressed their grief and condemned the heinous crime. The leaders included: Afsandyar Wali of ANP, Aftab Ahmed Sherpao of PPP (Sherpao Group), Munir Orakzai of FATA, Haji Khuda Buksh Rajar of PML-F and Hina Rabbani Khar. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the brutal assassination of Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer. According to an official handout issued on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said that he is deeply shocked over this tragic incident which is a highly condemnable act. He said that this incident would be thoroughly investigated and punishment would be awarded to the perpetrators of this heinous crime. He said that information would also be sought from the Federal government regarding this incident. He also sympathised with PPP Ministers and Assembly members present at the Polyclinic Hospital in Islamabad. In his condolence message, the Chief Minister has expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief and prayed that may Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss with fortitude. Meanwhile, the Punjab government has constituted a special team comprising top police officers to probe into the tragic incident. The government has also sought a detailed inquiry report from the committee in this regard.