More than 150 workers and paramedical staff on Thursday organised a protest rally to condemn the murder of Minorities Affairs Minister, Shahbaz Bhatti. The rally was led by Iqbal Ta'ir, Aslam Masih, Barkat Masih and Rana Aamer. The protestors burnt tyres, block the road and shouted slogans against terrorism, extremism and violence.
The paramedical staff halted their professional duties and marched on the roads with banners and placards inscribed with slogans, "protect religious minorities, and "we hate extremism." "Addressing the demonstration, the leaders strongly condemned murder of the minister and demanded that the culprits be put behind bars. They termed the incident a cold-blooded murder and questioned efficiency of the law enforcement agencies. They said that it is a matter of grave concern for the entire nation that a harmless and peace-loving person had been killed. They also said that the minorities in Pakistan are being compelled to migrate.
They were of the view that the culprits of Bhatti's murder will not be arrested as until today, no murderers of any high-profile personalities, including those of Benazir Bhutto, had been apprehended. They reminded that the minister had been receiving life threats for several days. The protestors stressed it though is the duty of law enforcement agencies to find out if there is a connection between the murders of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer and Bhatti, however it is a fact that both were victims of a series of killings, which should be stopped immediately.
On the occasion, minority leaders announced three days of mourning, during which all missionary organisations, except for the welfare institutions, will remain closed. They demanded the government to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against such type of murders and demanded exemplary punishment for the murderers. They noted that Pakistan is being highlighted due to the wrong reasons and emphasised upon the state to control the ongoing situation in which no one is safe.
They said that the Pakistan People's Party had promised the minorities that the blasphemy law would not be misused, but they are being targeted which is something that the government and law enforcement agencies should look into immediately. Meanwhile, Bishop of Multan, Dr Andrew Francis Exander, also condemned the murder in a statement issued on Thursday. He said that the murder of Bhatti is not a loss of one family or the minorities, it is a loss for the whole country and society as a whole.
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