ISLAMABAD: A government minister shot dead by suspected extremists in Pakistan left a video prophecy of his assassination, but had vowed to fight to the death in defence of persecuted minorities.
Police investigators said on Thursday they were on the trail of the gunmen who killed minority affairs minister Shahbaz Bhatti outside his mother's house in Islamabad, in a brazen attack that has drawn international outrage.
One police official said on condition of anonymity that investigators were looking into the security team assigned to Bhatti, who became the second high-profile victim among opponents of blasphemy law in Pakistan.
In a video said to have been recorded four months ago and newly posted online by the European group First Step Forum, which promotes interfaith dialogue, Bhatti had said he was being hunted by the Taliban or Al-Qaeda.
Extremists wanted to kill him because of his opposition to the blasphemy law and to Sharia legislation, and because of his work for "the oppressed and marginalised", the politician said sombrely into the camera."
But I want to share that I believe in Jesus Christ who has given his own life for us," said Bhatti, who was 42."
"I'm ready to die for a cause. I'm living for my community and suffering people, and I will die to defend their rights."
Bhatti's assassination rekindled international fears about extremism in Pakistan.
US President Barack Obama said he was saddened by the "horrific" assassination, which came two months after another liberal politician who wanted to reform the blasphemy law was gunned down by his police bodyguard."
Those who committed this crime should be brought to justice, and those who share Mr Bhatti's vision of tolerance and religious freedom must be able to live free from fear," Obama said.
Up to four assailants sprayed a hail of bullets at Bhatti's car in broad daylight on Wednesday.
Police said a letter was found at the scene, purportedly from supporters of Al-Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban, claiming responsibility."
Bhatti, was in charge of a committee set up to amend the law against blasphemy," police quoted the letter as saying.
"This is his fate. We will not spare anybody involved in acts of blasphemy," the letter read.
Senior police official Muhammad Ishaq Warraich cautioned Thursday that the letter might "be an attempt to divert our investigations", and his colleague Bani Amin said police were confident of a breakthrough."
The investigators were busy all night.
We hope to solve this case soon," Amin told AFP.
One line of inquiry appeared to be Bhatti's security detail, which was not with the minister at the time of the morning attack. Police said his bodyguards were at Bhatti's office, at his own request, rather than his mother's house.
The moderate governor of Punjab province, Salman Taseer, was killed in January in Islamabad by a member of his security team. The confessed killer has been feted as a hero by large crowds of hardliners.
Both Taseer and Bhatti were campaigning to rewrite the blasphemy law, which carries the death penalty. Critics say the law is commonly abused in business or personal disputes.
Controversy over the legislation flared both within Pakistan and internationally after Aasia Bibi, was sentenced to hang last year for making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).
Deploring Bhatti's assassination, EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton expressed deep concern "about the climate of intolerance and violence linked to the debate on the controversial blasphemy laws".
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