Pakistan's Minorities Minister, Shahbaz Bhatti, was assassinated by gunmen, who opened fire on his car in the capital, Islamabad on Wednesday. Police said he was travelling to work through a residential district when his vehicle was sprayed with bullets. He was the only Christian Minister in the Government.The Taliban said, they killed him. Mr. Bhatti, a Roman Catholic has been calling for changes in the Pakistan's controversial Blasphemy law. According to BBC, they received a video recorded by the Minister requesting them to be played if he were murdered. In the video, the Minister said he was ready to die for a cause and he was living for his community and suffering people. The Vatican has condemned the killing of Shahbaz Bhatti. Papal spokesman Federico Lombardi said, the attack was a new act of violence of a terrible gravity. Lombardi also stressed the need to defend religious freedom and end persecution of Christians in Pakistan.
News On AIR | March 3, 2011 8:26 AM
Pakistan's Minorities Minister assassinated in Islamabad; Taliban claims responsibility