Christians remember Shahbaz Bhatti on anniversary of death

Christians have called for justice for Shahbaz Bhatti on the first anniversary of his murder.

The Pakistani Minorities Minister was shot dead by gunmen in Islamabad a year ago to the day.

His killers have yet to be caught and the credibility of the ongoing police investigation has been called into question by Christian rights groups, including the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) founded by Bhatti.

Mervyn Thomas, chief executive of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, praised Bhatti’s commitment to making justice and equality a reality in the lives of Pakistan’s minorities.

“We pay tribute to our friend Shahbaz, whom we miss dearly, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time.

“We continue to draw inspiration from his commitment both as a grassroots activist and a politician, not to mention his faith.”

He continued: “It is crucial that his murder investigation reaches a satisfactory conclusion, not only to do justice and honour the memory of Shahbaz himself, but also to make it clear that the rule of law still means something in Pakistan.

“At stake is the ability and willingness of the Pakistani state to stand up against those taking justice into their own hands, including those who target religious minorities with confidence that they will never be held to account.”

A memorial service is being held today in Bhatti’s home town of Khushpur, Punjab. Britain’s Pakistani Christian community is organising a London concert and march against blasphemy in memory of the slain minister to be held on 10 March.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, Cardinal Keith O’Brien paid a moving tribute to the politician in a message that will be read out at the rally in Trafalgar Square.

In it, he pays tribute to Bhatti as a “truly remarkable hero whose legacy must live on in our own lives”.

“The call of religious freedom was one he made his own and anyone who cares about the dignity of the human person will listen to his words.”

The death of Bhatti, the only Christian minister in the Pakistani Parliament, came as a huge blow to the country’s tiny Christian minority who admired him as a fearless advocate for their rights.

Bhatti was outspoken in his opposition to Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, which make blasphemy a crime punishable by death or imprisonment.

Rights groups have repeatedly called for the laws to be repealed, saying that they are being misused to settle personal scores and seize the land or property of minorities.

Nasir Saeed, UK Coordinator of the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement, which provides free legal support to Pakistan’s Christian blasphemy victims, paid tribute to Bhatti’s bravery and called upon the Pakistani government to address the needs of the nation’s minorities.

“Shahbaz Bhatti’s legacy continues to inspire Christians around the world today. He refused to back down on his call for reform of the blasphemy laws, even though he knew that this was putting his life in danger,” he said.

“The Pakistani government must not let his death be in vain, but must bring his killers to justice and take steps to ensure that the country’s laws protect the lives of all citizens, instead of turning a blind eye when they are abused to cause hardship and suffering for some.

“I hope that on this first anniversary of Shahbaz Bhatti’s death, the Pakistani government takes time to reflect on what kind of country it wants Pakistan to be and does everything it can to make sure that Bhatti’s blood is the last to be shed because of the intolerant extremists who have wreaked havoc in this nation for too long.”