Shahbaz Bhatti, the Pakistani minister who defended Asia Bibi, is assassinated
(March 02, 2011) Vatican has condemned the assassination of Catholic federal minister
for minorities’ affairs Shahbaz Bhatti Wednesday morning in Islamabad, the capital
city of Pakistan. The Vatican Spokesperson Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi said that
the assassination of Pakistan's minister Shabbaz Bhatti, is a new expression of grave
violence against Christians. This explains of the constant insistence of the Pope
about the violence against Christians and against religious freedom in general. Bhatti
was the first Catholic to hold such a post. Father Lombardi recalled his meeting with
the Pope last September, and had expressed his commitment to peaceful coexistence
between religious communities in his country. Meanwhile the Christian groups are
organizing protests and meetings after the assassination of Catholic federal Shahbaz
Bhatti in Islamabad. Bhatti, 42, was attacked shortly after he left his residence
in Islamabad this morning for a meeting of federal cabinet. Reports said four gunmen
surrounded his vehicle and sprayed it with bullets. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza
Gilani said he strongly condemned the killing of the federal minister. He was at the
local hospital where the body had been transferred. Both the Catholic and Protestant
bishops plan to meet today at 5 pm at the residence of Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha
in Lahore. Vicar General Father Andrew Nisari, the meeting coordinator, condemned
the killing. “It is not only the loss of Christians but of the whole nation. Bhatti
fought for justice and his murder exposes the weakness of government as well as the
power of fanatics”, he said. Father Nisari also urged the government to refocus on
the “law of the jungle” dominating society. Bhatti had been receiving threats for
opposing the country’s blasphemy laws. He stopped appearing in media after the recent
killing of Punjab governor Salman Taseer, also for resisting the blasphemy laws. Bhatti
was appointed on November 2, 2008 as the first Catholic minister for minorities. He
started his political career after founding the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance movement
in 1985. He had received numerous international prizes for religious liberty, peace
and his struggle in favour of human rights. .