Why has Pakistan failed to bring Shahbaz Bhatti's murderer to justice?

Shahbaz Bhatti, Servant of God

Friday, 2 March, was the seventh anniversary of the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti - Pakistan's brave Minister for Minorities.

Lord Alton writes: If a country cannot bring to justice the killer of a Government Minister what chance do the country's persecuted, beleaguered and fleeing minorities have? Every day they face barbaric violence at the hands of Jihadist terrorists, they face persecution and rank discrimination at work, at school and in everyday life.

Homes have been destroyed, innocent people arrested and sentenced to death under "Blasphemy laws". Asia Bibi has spent nine years in prison awaiting execution.

Meanwhile, lynch mobs have run riot and parents even burnt alive while their children have been forced to watch. Girls and women have been snatched, raped, forcibly married and forcibly converted. Churches have been bombed and worshippers murdered.

Pakistan was founded on principles of equality and justice. What has been done to its own citizens, and done with impunity, makes a mockery of those high ideals.

The white in the nation's flag is there to represent the country's minorities but as those minorities suffer and Pakistan's law enforcement agencies and frightened leaders fail to speak or to act justly its flag has been dragged low.

Failure to act jeopardises the country's future and undermines the prospect of a diverse and respectful society.

That is why we should never forget the sacrifice of Shahbaz Bhatti who gave his life for his people - accepting political office even though he knew it could cost him his life.

Clement Shahbaz Bhatti, murdered on 2 March 2011, was 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 on 2 March 2011 in Islamabad. Bhatti, a Catholic, was an outspoken critic of Pakistan's blasphemy laws and the only Christian in the Cabinet. Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for his killing and called him a blasphemer of Muhammad.

In March 2016, five years after the death of Shahbaz Bhatti, his cause for beatification was formally opened by the Catholic Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, making him a Servant of God within the Catholic Church.

Watch musical tribute from Ooberfuse 'His Blood Cries Out' - www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABOIQfhyh1g