Pakistan marks fifth anniversary of assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti

Shahbaz Bhatti

Source: Fides

There were special prayers in churches in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Khushpur and Sargodha and in many other places, as Pakistan commemorated Shahbaz Bhatti on the 5th anniversary of his assassination by a terrorist on 2 March 2011.

A Pakistani politician and elected member of the National Assembly from 2008, he was the first Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs from November 2008 until his assassination in Islamabad. A Roman Catholic, he was an outspoken critic of Pakistan's blasphemy laws and the only Christian in the Pakistan Cabinet. Today the press in Pakistan carries several editorials and commentaries recalling the dedication of the Catholic member of parliament, murdered for his defence of a Catholic mother Asia Bibi condemned to death for blasphemy against the prophet Mohammed.

Mohammad Sherani, head of the Islamic Ideology Council, a consultative body of the Pakistani government, declared: "I respect religious sentiments but I respect the Constitution of Pakistan and no one is above the law." While the number of reports for blasphemy in the country is on the rise, in recent weeks Sherani has spoken of blasphemy laws being wrongly used, opening to possible preventative changes in the law.

The NGO Life for All Pakistanis, said in a statement: "We are proud to call Shahbaz Bhatti a son of our land. He never gave up the cause of the poor. He had no time for luxury. He sacrificed his personal and family life to dedicate himself to his community. We will carry his mission forward".

Bishop Anthony Lobo emeritus of Islamabad, who died in 2013, Bhatti's spiritual father, said: "Recognising his gifts of leadership and concern for the good of the Catholic Church in Pakistan, I encouraged his studies and involvement in politics. Although he had little desire to so, he decided to play an active part in politics in order to protect the country's Christians and other minorities. A man of great commitment he decided not to marry. He lived a life of celibacy. He had no possessions and saw his activity as a service. I believe that Clement Shahbaz Bhatti was a dedicated lay Catholic martyred for his faith."

The diocese of Islamabad is now collecting testimony for the preliminary enquiry in a diocesan process which hopes to declare Bhatti a martyr.