Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

[ravage]

Another victory for blasphemy law proponents.

UPDATE 1-Christian Pakistani minister shot dead in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD, March 2 (Reuters) - Pakistani Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti, who had called for changes in the country’s controversial blasphemy law, was killed in a gun attack in Islamabad on Wednesday, officials said.

Police said the shooting took place near an Islamabad market. Bhatti was the only Christian in the Pakistani cabinet.

“The initial reports are that there were three men who attacked him. He was probably shot using a Kalashnikov, but we are trying to ascertain what exactly happened,” said Islamabad police chief Wajid Durrani.

A hospital spokesman said Bhatti had several bullet wounds.

The anti-blasphemy law has been in the spotlight since last November, when a court sentenced a Christian mother of four to death.

On Jan. 4 the governor of the most populous province of Punjab, Salman Taseer, who had strongly opposed the law and sought presidential pardon for the 45-year-old Christian farmhand, was gunned down by one of his bodyguards.

The anti-blasphemy law has its roots in 19th-century colonial legislation to protect places of worship, but it was during the military dictatorship of General Mohammad Zia ul-Haq in the 1980s that it acquired teeth as part of a drive to Islamise the state.

Liberal Pakistanis and rights groups believe the law to be dangerously discriminatory against the country’s tiny minority groups.

Under the law, anyone who speaks ill of Islam and the Prophet Mohammad commits a crime and faces the death penalty, but activists say the vague terminology has led to its misuse.

Christians who make up about two percent of Pakistan’s population have been especially concerned about the law saying it offers them no protection.

Convictions hinge on witness testimony and often these are linked to personal vendettas, critics say.

Blasphemy convictions are common, although the death sentence has never been carried out. Most convictions are thrown out on appeal, but angry mobs have killed many people accused of blasphemy.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/02/idUSL3E7E20FV20110302

Goes without saying that both sides are extremists.

[ravage]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

He had been receiving beheading death threats. I suppose beheading is the more traditional solution, but as we saw on Valentines day, something about assassins allows for innovations to be acceptable.

The blasphemy law holds a death sentence for anyone who insults Islam, but Mr Bhatti said it had been used to persecute minority faiths.

“I was told that if I was to continue the campaign against the blasphemy law, I will be assassinated. I will be beheaded. But forces of violence, forces of extremism cannot harass me, cannot threaten me,” he said.

On 4 January, Punjab provincial governor Salman Taseer, who had also strongly opposed the law, was shot dead by one of his bodyguards.

Pakistan Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

[ehsan]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

Shameful act by extremists. When the murderers are arrested they will be treated as heroes for committing this murder. how low we have sunk.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/02/minorities-minister-attacked-in-islamabad.html

[ravage]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

From the above link:

DawnNews reported that a pamphlet was dropped at Bhatti’s house in which the Taliban claimed responsibility.

So I guess its a reaction.

[hanibal]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

So two incidents in 2 days...
what is next... attack at major venue in India and blame Pakistan for it???

Blasphemy issue was sleeping... no one including this minister was talking about it... it is out of the blue he was killed and just to show how insecure the minorities are there in Pakistan..

Now lets start bashing Pakistan and say that everything is messed up here, lets invite foreign forces to clean the mess, Talal Bugti have already given the hint that he will welcome UN forces in Balochistan... now i think we need few of those peace keeping soldiers in all the Pakistan so that, Shias, Christains, HIndus, Sunnis, Wahabies, Punjabies, Balochies, Sundhis, Pashtuns can be protected...

[shami2k]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

This is what I said 2 days ago.

No, you can never amend this law, and anyone who tries will meet same fate as Salam Taseer.

http://www.paklinks.com/gs/pakistan-affairs/485695-blasphemy-laws-in-pakistan-2.html

I hope Zardari and Gillani grow a pair and undo this law, but I wont hold my breath.

May he rest in peace.

[ravage]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

So two incidents in 2 days... what is next... attack at major venue in India and blame Pakistan for it???

Blasphemy issue was sleeping... no one including this minister was talking about it... it is out of the blue he was killed and just to show how insecure the minorities are there in Pakistan..

Ah yes. The extremists didnt do it, its someone who wants to show that the minorities are insecure in Pakistan.

[CM]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

deleted

[ravage]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

what business do we have with a minorities minister anyway

[hanibal]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

^^ same as the MInister of postal affairs

[ravage]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

Exactly. Or the law ministry.

[hanibal]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

Or the ministry of Parliamentary affairs and Ministry of Provincial Relation

[kakaballi]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

down down down to the hellhole we go......

[Zarvan_Ali]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

well i dont know what to say if he was innocent than if Pakistani goverment cant do anything about the killers than ALLAH knows what to do butt if he wasnt innocent than ALLAH will deal with him

[ravage]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

if he was innocent. innocent of what?

[Zarvan_Ali]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

if he was innocent. innocent of what?

Ravage you know what I am talking about I am talking about the helping the blashmer even knowing that she or he did it

[tipusulatn]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

I am really sorry. although i consider religious minded but what happening in our country beyond my wildest dream.

I hate to say this, but if this is "Islamic Republic of Pakistan" I rather live to change secular republic.

These mullah who are preaching hate would certainly go to hell fire afterward but not they made our lives hell.

[Iconoclast]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

So two incidents in 2 days... what is next... attack at major venue in India and blame Pakistan for it???

Blasphemy issue was sleeping... no one including this minister was talking about it... it is out of the blue he was killed and just to show how insecure the minorities are there in Pakistan..

Now lets start bashing Pakistan and say that everything is messed up here, lets invite foreign forces to clean the mess, Talal Bugti have already given the hint that he will welcome UN forces in Balochistan... now i think we need few of those peace keeping soldiers in all the Pakistan so that, Shias, Christains, HIndus, Sunnis, Wahabies, Punjabies, Balochies, Sundhis, Pashtuns can be protected...

Frankly, everything is messed up here.

[M_Cool]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

Woah thats so messed up... :(

[mickeymouse]

Re: Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead

^ yeah, these s""" brains are everywhere.