AFP/Express: Relatives see the bullet-riddled car.
On Wednesday, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Minority Affairs was shot dead in Islamabad. According to news agencies, Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian member of the Federal Cabinet, was on his way to work “when unknown gunmen riddled his car with bullets.” Al Jazeera English noted that Bhatti’s driver was also wounded in the attack, and correspondent Kamaal Hyder reported, “They asked the driver to get out of the vehicle and then peppered the minister with bullets…He was on his way to a cabinet meeting.”
Express reports that the Tehreek-e-Taliban had claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s attack, which reportedly took place outside Bhatti’s parent’s house in I-8/3. In leaflets left at the scene of the shooting, the militants “blamed the government for putting Bhatti, an ‘infidel Christian,’ in charge of an unspecified committee, apparently referring to one said to be reviewing the blasphemy law,” noted the Associated Press. The pamphlet emphasized, “With the blessing of Allah, the mujahedeen will send each of you to hell.”
Soon after Salmaan Taseer‘s assassination, Bhatti voiced fears that he was “the next highest target,” given his statements against Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. Back in January, he told the AFP, “During this [Aasia] Bibi case I constantly received death threats. Since the assassination of Salmaan Taseer… these messages are coming to me even publicly.” Bhatti reportedly requested more security, and was provided four guards from the interior ministry. However, news agencies report that Bhatti’s security detail “were not with him at the time of the attack.” Although this fact raises significant concerns, Islamabad’s Inspector General (IG) insists this was not a security lapse because Bhatti “had apparently instructed his security to wait at the office in I-8/4.” Durrani told reporters, “The squad officer told me that the minister had directed him to wait for him at his office. He used to often visit his mother’s house without a squad…We are investigating the matter from different angles.”
If this is indeed the case, then Bhatti’s assassins were still well aware of when the minister wasn’t accompanied by his security detail. That is still a potential concern.
And of course, there can’t be an act of violence without some accompanying conspiracy theory. According to Express, after news agencies reported the Taliban claimed responsibility for Bhatti’s death, former MNA and chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Sindh chapter Asadullah Bhutto told reporters the assassination “was an attempt by the CIA to divert the attention of masses from Raymond Davis.” In the statement, Bhutto further emphasized,
Accepting the responsibility of killing the minister soon after the incident by ‘Punjabi Taliban’, as reported by media, is ample proof that the CIA is behind this crime because the US spy agency had been staging such ‘dramas’ of ‘Punjabi Taliban’ after committing the crimes of same nature earlier.
Bhatti’s death today is an immense tragedy, another nail in the coffin for those willing to be truly courageous in this country. Both Taseer and Bhatti may have spoken out openly against the blasphemy laws, but just as this legislation has become a larger-than-life symbol, so has this type of bravery. After today’s assassination, Pakistani politicians issued the expected condemnations, but not one person even mentioned the laws. In fact, voices against the blasphemy laws have dwindled considerably. Political analyst Rasul Bakhsh Rais told the AP today that Bhatti’s death “further weakens a government already seen by many as corrupt and ineffective.” He emphasized, “They’re not interested in providing citizens with what they need. We don’t have good economy, good society, good education or good security.”
Bhatti was well-aware of the danger he was in, and taped a farewell message to be broadcast in the event of his death. Despite the threats he received, he said in the tape, he would not be deterred from speaking for “oppressed and marginalized persecuted Christians and other minorities” in Pakistan. “I will die to defend their rights. These threats and these warnings cannot change my opinions and principles.”
CHUP will provide further updates to this story as it develops.
UPDATE 1000 EST: Via @beenasarwar, there will be protests over the Bhatti assassination held today 5.30 pm [PST] Karachi Press Club, 3.00 pm [PST] Lahore Press Club.
The Christian Science Monitor quoted Mehdi Hassan, chairman of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, who said Pakistan’s political parties are so bitterly divided it makes it extremely difficult to unite against rising extremism. “Our political leaders do not view security as a top priority problem.” Thoughts?
Bhatti’s farewell tape/interview:
So sad…
Poor Pakistan…
Salaam(Peace and Tranquility from Allaah),Allaah’s Rahmah(Mercy,Grace and Love) and His Barakaat(Blessings) be upon all brothers and sisters
It is important for Muslims to discuss important issues objectively which are global in nature and will determine the spiritual and temporal future of Islamic civilization. As a Muslim preacher, I am trying my best to educate both Muslims and non-Muslims about the most rational and the most spiritual attitude towards any misunderstandings about Islam which can be conducive to what I perceive as an inevitable Zionist neo-Crusades which begin and end at Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem in Palestine. I have directly talked to some US neocon Christian politicians who are seriously Islamophobic due to theological challenges Islam presents to their Christian belief system, as well as the due to the militant Islamic resistance they are facing due to their imperialistic ambitions,solely with the intention of Calling and Inviting them towards Allaah-One God of Moses,Jesus and Muhammad sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wasallam which is the moral duty of every Muslim believer as enunciated in Qur’aan-ul-Kareem.
I would share here something which is important for both Muslims and non-Muslims to know.
The Last Apostle of God(May God bless Him and grant Him peace) said:”On the Day of Resurrection(Day of Rising from the dead,Yawm-ul-Qiyâmah) I shall dispute with anyone who oppresses a person from among the People of the Covenant, or infringes on his right, or puts a responsibility on him which is beyond his strength or takes something from him against his will.”
People of the Covenant refers to a non-Muslim living in an Islamic state.
I would share my following comments which are directly related to the issues discussed above.
http://constitutionclub.org/2010/11/22/islamists-accuse-egypts-christians-of%E2%80%A6-radical-islam/
http://constitutionclub.org/2011/01/02/bomb-hits-egypt-church-at-new-year-liturgy/
http://constitutionclub.org/2011/02/16/the-threat-of-civil-unrest-in-pakistan-and-the-davis-case/
http://constitutionclub.org/2011/02/24/another-islamofascist-terror-attack-thwarted/
@Kalsoom: Thank you for providing a neutral and well informed perspective about this heinous assassination.
[...] Another Islamabad Assassination [...]
[...] Pakistan has been hit by another tragedy today with the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s Minorities Minister and the only Christian member of the Federal Cabinet. Clearly, this was an attack that was meant to impact in its brutality and audacity. It happened in broad daylight when, according to news reports, gunmen asked the driver to step out of the car before they riddled the vehicle and the minister with bullets. Initial police reports put the bullet count at close to 25. Because of his stand against the Blasphemy laws and his unfailing support of Pakistan’s minorities in an increasingly radicalised environment, Bhatti had been receiving death threats for a while. He even recorded a farewell message that was to be released at the time of this death. For a detailed analysis report, please see blogger and philanthropist, Kalsoom Lakhani’s insightful post in “CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan.” [...]
CIA? This has the fingerprints of RAW all over it, I tell you.
hahaha ….. Javed…..ur comment is very funny.
Why do you think it’s RAW or CIA? Is it because
1. Pakistanis are not capable of crime
2. Pakistan is the epitome of tolerance
3. Zaid Hamid told you
4. Your research led you to the evidence linking RAW to it
5. Your government has evidence which it plans to share with international observers
6. You’d like to think it was someone else for convenience, infact u’ve made ur decision before any official investigation, haven’t you?
it’s hilarious!!! please do check what international media (the world) thinks about it…google it.
People like you in Pakistan bring a bad name to Islam.
Um. Javed was joking dude.
I am always saddened when I see people blaming these agencies. What about us British? There was a day when British intelegence was synominous with conspiracy and intregue. Now even Iran is sniggering when it blames us for things.
Stuff like this doesn’t help
http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE6AP1OY20101126?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true
” What about us British?”
People in Pakistan here have a really painful history with the British.Many Orthodox Muslim scholars were mass executed by the British, and that is something I personally feel the pain of.
British agencies are directly complicit in massacre of hundreds of thousands of Muslims in Iraq by furnishing the so-called evidence for weapons of mass destruction which were never found.It is said death of a person is a tragedy but a massacre is only a statistics.But, it’s not a statistics for us.
We only seek a spiritual self-introspection on the part of Western civilization(neo-Christendom) because this is raison detre of the spiritual existence of our civilization.We have a notion of just war, and since we fear God, we are at least not going to break our own rules.But, we can’t expect the British to abide by their own rules because materialism is not based on any spiritual moral consideration.
I hope future British generations are open-minded to the prospects of a universal spiritual civilization than selfish delusions of grandeur.
“The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do.” Samuel P. Huntington
“Why do you think it’s RAW or CIA?”
ISI may have to single-handedly deal with RAW-CIA duo or even RAW-CIA-MOSSAD trio in the future, but in this case there are factual indications of CIA due to its proximity with the Raymond Davis issue, who is without any doubt an anti-Pakistan US security officer[can be a dangerous euphemism].
“1. Pakistanis are not capable of crime”
Pakistanis may be goaded into crime due to Pakistan’s unavoidable involvement in a war which is obviously an anti-Islamic war for any serious and informed Muslim observer, but they can be educated about how they can be exploited in the end to the detriment of Muslims themselves.
“2. Pakistan is the epitome of tolerance”
A religious Muslim has historically been tolerant than vice versa in the case of other religions.So, Pakistan has huge prospects of tolerance, unless some Pakistanis are gullible enough to buy themselves into how non-Muslims perceive Islam in the mirror-image of their own religious histories.The above quoted words of the Last Apostle of God(saaws) are the epitome of tolerance and His Personality is the predominant spiritual inspiration in the lives of all Muslims living in Pakistan.
“3. Zaid Hamid told you” He may not be a credible voice in a religious context, but as far as Pakistani security is concerned he is one of the most credible voices.
“4. Your research led you to the evidence linking RAW to it”
It is not enough for Pakistanis to have good intentions alone.RAW is traditionally and pertinently treated as a threat, but it may not always be the case.They should be willing to research and be as well-informed as possible.Political ignorance is a recipe of national disasters as is evident in the case of Pakistan.We need to adopt as informed and as rational approach as possible.
“5. Your government has evidence which it plans to share with international observers”
It is mostly not possible for government because it leads to blackmail sometimes.However,we need to vote courageous people to power if we want Pakistani government to have enough moral courage in such crucial matters.
“6. You’d like to think it was someone else for convenience, infact u’ve made ur decision before any official investigation, haven’t you?”
Of course, we should look forward to official investigation, but once again we may not be able to know the results.All of us need to be smart individually.Most of us are educated citizens, so we can investigate issues for ourselves.We need to inculcate that investigative spirit within our culture.
“it’s hilarious!!! please do check what international media (the world) thinks about it…google it.”
We should be well-informed about world media but also should have the intellectual maturity to arrive at independent conclusions.
“People like you in Pakistan bring a bad name to Islam.”
An uninformed political commentator is likely to invite ridicule.So all of us should behave like mature and informed Muslims.
Except that the guy who wrote the original comment was being facetious!
I seriously don’t know what the bloody government is going to do about it. I wonder if Zardari is going to go to his funeral or not, or just stay away as he did during Taseers.
More importantly, how will the government tackle this… or just keep on ignoring them…
I am just disgusted by the current government. They seem to have no aim, agenda, or anything, besides keeping their bloody government in tact. The option is no better either…
I am just speechless today
We voted them to power!
*opposition
Sherry Rahman might be next:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/02/sherry-rehman-pakistan-blasphemy-laws-hitlist
This highlights a deep ideological divide, not just within the public, but also within the political elites in Pakistan. Scary. If she is successfully targeted, these laws will never be reformed.
Salaam and Peace be upon you
“This highlights a deep ideological divide, not just within the public, but also within the political elites in Pakistan. ”
I think there is not.Those who believe in divide and conquer may like to, but I will stand both for minority rights and respect of all religions.There shouldn’t be political exploitation of any religious issue from any side.
“If she is successfully targeted, these laws will never be reformed.”
Who can ever know if CIA kills her and fund some pseudo-religious group to claim responsibility.Educated Muslims due to ignorance of Islam tend to act on the side of those who have historically considered Islam as a threat to their beliefs.They have a right to disagree with Islam, but educated Muslims shouldn’t buy themselves into the demagoguery which calls to get used to disrespect of all religions.
All of us need to be as rational and as spiritual as possible due to the sensitivity of the issue so that we may not be unconsciously acting on the behalf of someone else.
So, according to you, anyone, expect a Pakistani will target Sherry Rehman and have targeted the Minister.
Interesting.
I wonder if crimes ever happen in such a tolerant, moral country. I sure do envy Pakistan!
Anyone demanding a resignation from Rehman Malik?
This really saddens. May God give his family the patience and courage to carry on without him with honor. I have lost all hope in Pakistan and its people and in their resolve to get rid of this lingering monstrosity.
“I have lost all hope in Pakistan and its people and in their resolve to get rid of this lingering monstrosity.” To solve problems we need hope and an objective discussion which we can engage in, so don’t lose hope.
Yes that is a very wise thing to do but it has become near impossible to do that without paying a big price.
Salaam, I would like to quote a recent initiative by some religious leaders , about the religious legitimacy of which I still have questions, to participate in a Christmas ceremony to develop a culture of dialogue in the country. This shows the willingness of people here to act in every possible manner to forfeit the external attempts to destabilize the country, and to develop a culture of dialogue.
Well ..this is a part of the game.
You people saw the great adventure in abolishing the blasphemy law and forget all about consequences and here we got the perfect analogy of Newton’s third law of motion.
So this is all about action and reaction. Its a game of action and reaction….
Wake up…Got damn it ..its a Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
@ Sahar,
hmmmmm…should i buy the sweets?
Kulsoom,
I have been really upset about this since i heard it. The same feeling as when Salman Taseer was murdered… that despondency and sadness…
I dont live in Pakistan and wasn’t born there, but i have family from there and have always kept abreast of news etc. as i love it dearly… but today Pakistan say Imaan hii uth geya…
Lekin my beliefs have solidified NO RELIGION should be allowed in our politics, the only solution is to become a secular country – and now i believe that for every country… we should take a leaf out of India and Bangladesh’s book!
“Lekin my beliefs have solidified NO RELIGION should be allowed in our politics,the only solution is to become a secular country – and now i believe that for every country… we should take a leaf out of India and Bangladesh’s book!”
Wasn’t Iqbal who was the son of an Islamic mystic and played an important theoretical role in partition politics a religious person?In fact, had secular India been a role model in his vision, he would never have demanded partition in the first place.It is only our lack of an intellectual connection with our historical roots which causes many of us to suffer from inferiority complex and identity crisis about their religion.But, still there are educated Muslims who don’t suffer from any inferiority complex and identity crisis about their religion who still are connected to their historical roots.
@Muhammad,
I already understand its a waste trying to convince you but I have to try.
Bangladesh has adopted the Indian-model, rather than the Pakistani model, which is purely non-secular and look where it stands.
India has its share of problems, but it is widely confined to Economic issues, not identity or ideological in nature.
So, the 2 countries Pakistan has historical linkages are following the same path and are doing wonderfully well(comparably to Pakistan only, of course). But, Pakistan has been on wrong side of the road ever since its existence.
Yes, action by courageous good people, and reaction by dark hearted violent people. What is needed is that the silent majority that has a heart (I hope) take courage and stand up and let the violent people know that they should be ashamed of their evil ways.
“Yes, action by courageous good people, and reaction by dark hearted violent people. ”
There is no action-reaction scenario here, but rather a vicious cycle based on blame-game scenario.So, courageous good people who constitute a silent majority in Pakistan, shouldn’t be naive enough to believe in childish action-reaction scenario, but should be mature enough to see beyond and behind the stage.
Vicious cycle? Maybe, but above all a violent minority imposing a one thought regime. In this example, if you are against the blasphemy law you get killed. Silence by terror. I see only two options, submit to the terror and let them have their way, or be courageous and refuse to let them dictate your opinion.
The second option was the one Bhatti and Taseer chose and not only should they be honored for valuing liberty higher than their own lives, but they should be set as examples to be admired and followed by any Pakistani or human being for that matter.
“Maybe, but above all a violent minority imposing a one thought regime.”
All Muslims unanimously abhor blasphemy and believe in respect of all religions.This has been the case throughout our sacred history.The ideological founder of Pakistan Muhammad Iqbal was pretty vocal about that.Muslims can’t be emotionally blackmailed into bargaining their faith.The same Muhammad Iqbal was also aware of the duties Our Nabi Muhammad(saaws) commanded us towards religious minorities.And, since we love Our Nabi Muhammad(saaws) ,we can never imagine disobeying Him.
Muslims don’t want their religious moral duties towards minorities to be affected by their commitment to uphold respect of the founder of our spiritual civilization.They are, and should be independent issues which should not be conflated by any spiritually and intellectually honest individual.
We value the sacredness and holiness of Our Nabi Muhammad(saaws) more than our lives and this is the raison detre of the existence of our civilization.
The impartiality and equality of the sacred law is evident from the fact that it applies in the case of a Muslim who is disrespectful towards Moses and Jesus,salaam(shalom in hebrew) and peace be upon them, as well.
“If I change my stance today, who will speak out? I am mindful that I can be assassinated any time, but I want to live in history as a courageous man.” Shahbaz Bhatti
http://bbc.in/gtpAPD
I’m really hoping CIA agent Raymond Davis’ arrest and trial is going to blow the lid off CIA covert operations in Pakistan. I find the Mar 1 speech Pakistani prime minister Gilani made to the Assembly – accusing “hostile external elements” of supporting the insurgency in the province of Balochistan – highly significant. http://tribune.com.pk/story/125602/baloch-insurgency-funded-from-abroad-pm/
Owing to their heavy dependence on the US for political and economic aid, the government has always tiptoed around the CIA “freedom fighters” in the Baloch separatist movement. The reality is that there’s really no way to ascertain whether random acts of terror in the tribal areas on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan are caused by the Taliban, Al Qaeda or the Balochistan Liberation Army. However it’s obvious that the CIA’s role in training and financing Baloch separatists (they get paid $200 a month, $300 for section chiefs) is a major factor in the climate of violence and extreme political and economic instability. Clearly the government of Pakistan is under major pressure to make it stop. Gilani’s public warning suggests that Davis’ arrest has emboldened them to take a firmer stand.
Islamic civilization is indebted to men of conscience in Western civilization.
I think you are well meaning but I am sick and tired of this them and us attitude i.e India/Pakistan, Islamic v Western civilisation yada yada. This mindset is the one that creates enormous problems and Muslims are just aping the Western nationalisms when they adopt this. I am fed up with all these tribal politics that are separating father from son, neighbour from neighbour, friend from friend. We, all of humanity are all God’s children. It is our thoughts deeds and actions that we need to reflect on and correct rather than trying to seek dominance over the other. Islamists are causing huge damage to Islam. It’s a crying shame. Please reflect. It’s not too late for anyone of us.
Tilsim,
I’ve read your comments on a few occassions and liked your “live and let live” attitude. Shortly after BB was killed, a father and sons trio from Pakistan visited me in Chennai on a business venture. I had a freewheeling talk with them, especially the boys touching on several taboo topics. At the end of it all, they marvelled as to how alike we were and what a boon it would be if free access was given for normal Pakistanis to meet Indians from South. The clear geographical distinction pipped my curiosity to which they laughingly replied that the quintessential Pakistani was a mirror image of North Indians in all ways. Whether the cuisine, aggressive behaviour, culture (or lack of it, as they put it ),etc the DNA in the entire zone was the same. Not so with South Indians as per them.
They were amazed when I told them that a top Hindu temple Sabrimala has at its foothills a mausoleum of the Lord’s favourite devotee, a muslim, which every devotee has to bow before he undertakes the pilgrimage. Whats more, several hundreds of thousands muslims visit the temple to pray to Lord Ayyappa. None of the Hindu devotees feel offended in praying at the mausoleum nor do the Muslims baulk at following the Hindu rituals while on the distinctly Hindu pilgrimage. So there!!!!
Mr Ellijah, I have a question to ask you for which I would like a straightforward, BRIEF repeat BRIEF and honest answer (yes and no type).
In your opinion what should be the punishment for the killer of Salman Taseer, Malik Mumtaz Quadri, who has confessed his crime and likewise in your opinion what kind of punishment the killers of Shahbaz Bhatti be awarded when they are caught and confess their crime????
Sir, your BRIEF answer to this question, without beating about the bush, will help me to understand better what you stand for and what you are trying to preach. If you can’t answer this question in less number of words than the question then you might as well forget about answering the question.
“In your opinion what should be the punishment for the killer of Salman Taseer, Malik Mumtaz Quadri, who has confessed his crime and likewise in your opinion what kind of punishment the killers of Shahbaz Bhatti be awarded when they are caught and confess their crime?”
If Federal Shariah court decides that Mumtaz Qadri and killers of Bhatti should be executed, I will respect the decision.I don’t respect the legislative procedures which are an unholy and unIslamic legacy of colonialist Christian slavery.
//I don’t respect the legislative procedures which are an unholy and unIslamic legacy of colonialist Christian slavery.//
Which means you would rather follow the barbaric and inhumane ‘legislative procedures’ which are in fact the legacy of Judaism.
Good for you sir.
“Which means you would rather follow the barbaric and inhumane ‘legislative procedures’ which are in fact the legacy of Judaism.
Good for you sir.”
Earliest Judaism and Earliest Christianity is equal to Islam which corrupted with the passage of time to be purged again by Ishmaelic Prophet Muhammad(saaws) who was the son of Abraham(as) and Hagar(as).So, if you hate God of Abraham(as),Hagar(as),Ishmael(as),Sarah(as),Isaac(as),Moses(as),Jesus(as) and Muhammad(saaws),I can only do Du’aa(Supplication and Prayer to Allah) for you.Otherwise,the humanity would embrace the Godless religion of Antichrist-the future intellectual and cultural leader of all the enemies of Islam which is based on hatred of God.
Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong with Pakistan.
First, it was born based on a divisive theory- The 2 nation theory. Second, it followed a leader, who spoke based on the audience he was addressing. Third, on his way to fulfill his ambition, he shunned every major leader of pre-partition India, as a result, when he died there were no leaders worth their salt to take Pakistan forward. Forth, this led to the creation of a non-secular Constitution and a system, which has contributed to the downfall of this unfortunate country.
Nehru was right, Jinnah not.
Mr Elijah, from the absence of your answer to a very simple question from me it can be safely assumed, without any surprise, that you condone the heinous acts of Mr Mumtaz Malik and killers of Shabaz Bhatti. Now you have confirmed what I thought you stand for and what your preaching is all about.
Thank you, thank you very much for helping me, by your silence, to see you so clearly behind a veil of faked piety.
I am sorry,I am outstation.I will address your questions.
Sir, take your time. I can wait for you to answer my question.