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PAKPAC Condemns
Assassination of
Pakistani Federal
Minister
Bhatti
Washington DC
March 2nd 2011:
Pakistan American Public
Affairs Committee
(PAKPAC) strongly
condemns the vicious and
heinous assassination of
Pakistan’s Federal
Minister for Minorities
Affairs Mr. Shahbaz
Bhatti. This is a sad
day for Pakistan, its
citizens at home and
abroad, and for the
forces of democracy and
moderation Mr. Bhatti
courageously criticized
the blasphemy laws in
Pakistan and recently
stated that, "It is the
time that the people of
different faiths and the
Pakistani nation stand
united against the
forces of intolerance,
against the forces of
violence. The blasphemy
law is being misused to
victimize the innocent
people of Pakistan."
 A Pakistani of Christian
faith, Mr. Bhatti
founded the All Pakistan
Minorities Alliance (APMA)
movement in 1985. He
was recognized for his
work on religious
freedom throughout the
world. In 2003, he was
awarded the prize for
religious liberty in
Finland. In 2009, he
was awarded the
medallion for
championing the rights
of minorities by the
U.S. Commission on
International Religious
Freedom.
In 2008, he was the
first Christian
Parliamentarian who
became the Federal
Minister of Minorities
Affairs in Pakistan.
This was the first time
that the ministry had
been elevated to a
cabinet rank. When
appointed, Mr. Bhatti
stated that he accepted
the post for the,
"oppressed, down-trodden
and marginalized" in
Pakistan. True to his
word, he fought for the
voiceless and lobbied
the Pakistani government
to release or pardon
Asia Bibi (a Christian
woman who was given the
death sentence for
blasphemy).
Indeed, Mr. Bhatti, like
others before him,
strived to follow the
vision of Mr. Jinnah,
the Founding Father of
Pakistan - a Pakistan in
which there is, "no
discrimination, no
distinction between one
community and another
[and] no discrimination
between one caste or
creed."
PAKPAC President Dr.
Mohammad Suleman
demanded immediate
action from Government
of Pakistan; he said
“This shows apathy and
weakness of the
democratically elected
government of Pakistan.
It is the responsibility
of the government for
the security and welfare
of every citizen .PAKPAC
strongly urge the
government to take
action against the
extremist elements in
the society. How many
more lives have to be
lost, before government
will own up to its
responsibility of
protecting its citizens”
More on Mr. Bhatti’s
murder
Pakistan President
Zardari statement
Pakistan Prime Minister
Gilani statement
President Obama
Statement
Secretary of Sate
Hillary Clinton
Statement
Senator Kerry (MA)
statement
Senator Casey (PA)
statement
World Reaction
Vatican Statement
Additional
Reading on
Minorities Rights in
Islam
For more information
write to
ed@pakpac.net or call 202
558 6404
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