International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that the killers of Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's sole Christian cabinet minister, have yet to be brought to justice four years after Bhatti was assassinated. Bhatti's murder occurred only months after the high profile assassination of Salmaan Taseer, then governor of Punjab. Both men were murdered for their public opposition to Pakistan blasphemy laws and for condemning the death sentence received by Asia Bibi, a Christian woman accused of blasphemy in June 2009.
Bhatti was gunned down in Islamabad, Pakistan's federal capital, on March 2, 2011. Police found a letter at the crime scene from the Tehrik-e-Taliban claiming responsibility for the murder and adding that Bhatti was killed for opposing Pakistan's blasphemy laws.
Bhatti's murder trial has moved at a snail's pace, despite police claiming to have arrested all people accused, including the men who shot Bhatti. Many observers cite threats from extremists as the reason for why the trial continues to face delay. Paul Bhatti, Shahbaz Bhatti's brother, was forced to flee Pakistan due to threats.
According to media reports, Pakistan's federal government is considering shifting the Bhatti murder trial to a military court. It is hoped that hearing the case in a closed military court will speed up the process and reduce interference from radicals.
Talking with ICC, Tahir Naveed Chaudhary, chairman of the Pakistan Minorities Alliance, remembered Bhatti's leadership, saying, "Four years have passed, but we still miss out leader, colleague, and brother Bhatti. Bhatti was a brave and visionary leader, who we miss now and therefore salute for sacrificing his life for his people."
Basharat Masih, coordinator for the Commission for Justice and Peace in Islamabad, told ICC,"The Christian community will never forget [Bhatti's] precious service and martyrdom. We have lost a great human being, promoter of peace, and bridge between religious communities."
"He was a hero to the [Christian] community," said Professor Anjum James Paul, close friend of Bhatti. "He stood against injustices, inequalities, discrimination, and human rights violations. He remained committed to his call to serve the downtrodden until his last breath. He will be remembered for his extraordinary services."
ICC's Regional Manager for South Asia, William Stark, said, "Blasphemy laws continue to be one of the greatest threats to Christianity in Pakistan. While blasphemy laws claim to seek religious harmony through uniformity, in practice they provide cover for the pursuit of personal vendettas and crush fundamental freedoms for Pakistan's religious minorities. By protecting these laws and failing to bring Shahbaz Bhatti's killers to justice, the Pakistani government is further emboldening extremists to commit ever-more violent acts against religious minorities. ICC calls on the Pakistani government to bring Bhatti's murderers to justice as soon as possible. Moreover, ICC calls for the release and safekeeping of Asia Bibi, whose blasphemy accusation and conviction has brought about so much loss already."
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