Christian Solidarity Worldwide calls for prayers for Pakistan

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has called for prayers for Pakistan after the assassination of Pakistan's opposition leader and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto threw the country's future into doubt.

CSW described Benazir Bhutto's murder by a suicide bomber last Thursday as "a tragedy for Pakistan and a major setback for the cause of human rights, religious freedom and a tolerant, democratic and peaceful future for the country".

According to one of Pakistan's leading human rights campaigners, Group Captain (Rtd) Cecil Chaudhry, Bhutto was accompanied at the rally in Rawalpindi on 27 December by senior representatives of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, an umbrella body that brings together Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and other religious minorities to campaign for equal rights and religious freedom.

CSW's Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas, said Bhutto's assassination was "an extremely shocking act of terrorism which plunges Pakistan into deeper crisis".

He said the fact that she was joined at the rally by leaders of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance suggested that she was "viewed as one of Pakistan's best hopes for a secular, progressive democracy in which the rights of all religious communities are respected".

"Her death is a tragedy for Pakistan and a major setback for the cause of human rights, religious freedom and a tolerant, democratic and peaceful future for the country," said Mr Thomas.

"We urge Christians around the world to pray for Pakistan at this critical time. We urge President Musharraf and other leading politicians to be bold in tackling extremism and in moving towards a moderate, democratic system based on respect for human rights for all."