ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti was assassinated on Wednesday morning in Sector 1-8 of the Federal Capital by unidentified assaliants who opened fire on him and fled the scene on a car.
According to his private secretary, the Minister's car was intercepted by the attacker's car that came from the opposit direction and one of the riders opened fire on the minister. Consequently, Shahbaz Bhatti received volley of bullets on his face and upper parts of the body.
Soon After the incident, driver of minister's car rushed him to the nearby Shifa Hospital where he succumbed to injuries.
Shahbaz Bhatti was on his way to a meeting of Federal cabinet with no security guards when he came under attack of unknown assaliants, the PS said.
His body was shifted to PIMS hospital for autopsy while his burial ceremony will be held after his brothers return home from Canada and Italy.
The minister's secretary said that Shahbaz Bhatti was receiving threats for the last few days.
Meanwhile, Inspector General Police Islamabad Wajid Durrsni told the pressmen that the assasinated minister was provided two squads each of police and FC for his protection but he (minister) himself directed not to provide protective squads at his residance.
He said there was no squad for protection was accompanying him at the time of incident. When he left home in the official car, a Mehran car intercepted his car and the riders opened fir on him, causing critical injuries.
"He was intercepted by three to four persons riding a Mehran car and opened fire at him," IG Islamabad said.
He said all outlets of the city have been sealed and mobile squads directed to check all the cars having similarity with the attackers car. A special team has been constituted for investigation besides coordinating with the mobile squads in the field.
Meanwhile, receiving the information of minister's assassination, members of christian community and other minorities thronged to Shifa and PIMS hospitals and protested the brutal killing of their leader.
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