Bhatti's assassination: country needs comprehensive strategy: Prime Minister

Condemning the assassination of Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that a comprehensive strategy be prepared to counter terrorism and religious extremism in the country. "For this purpose, I proposed to hold debate tomorrow (Thursday) in the House for preparing the strategy. Such incidents are disrepute for the country.
Terrorism and extremism were bringing bad name to Islam," the Prime Minister said while speaking in the National Assembly on Wednesday as the federal minister for minorities affairs was assassinated in the Capital. The Prime Minister also proposed to convene a meeting of heads of parliamentary committees to discuss the issue and to prepare a comprehensive strategy. He also called a meeting of the Defence Co-operation Committee (DCC) of the Cabinet involving civil and military bureaucracy to adopt effective measures to curb such incidents.
"It is issue of the dignity and sovereignty of Pakistan. I assured the House that those who are responsible for this incident will be taken to task " he said. While expressing sympathy and condolences with the bereaved family, the Prime Minister said that Shahbaz Bhatti worked for promotion of interfaith harmony. Earlier, the National Assembly observed a two-minute silence to mourn the assassination of the Minister.
All the members except three members of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) stood up and remained silent for two minutes. Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza also condemned the assassination of the minister and termed it a tragic incident, which sent a negative signal to the international community. She said that the House would hold a debate on the issue to formulate a joint strategy with the suggestions of parliamentarians to curb such incidents in future. Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Babar Awan also condemned the incident and requested the speaker to adjourn the session--a tradition of the Parliament on the death of any House member.