Memorial service held for Shabhaz Bhatti

A memorial service was held in Karachi, Pakistan today paying tribute to the assassinated Minister for Religious Minorities Shabhaz Bhatti.The Catholic Minister was killed earlier this month after speaking out against the country's harsh blasphemy laws.

Meanwhile,

An initiative is being organized called “Caravan for Shabhaz” which will stop in major cities across the country in order to raise greater awareness of the rights of minorities.

“He, (Shahbaz Bhatti) has proved to be a very good Catholic, he has been very loyal to the church”, says Pakistani priest Fr Bonnie Mendes who is also Regional Co-coordinator for Caritas Asia, who knew Shabhaz Bhatti.

Fr Mendes told Vatican Radio that (Bhatti) “spoke very well and very forcefully always but in the recent past he has been speaking forcefully against the blasphemy law… and he has paid for it with his blood.” listen to interview with Lydia O'Kane here