President Asif Ali Zardari paid glowing tributes to late Shahbaz Bhatti, saying that the sacrifice rendered by him for promoting interfaith harmony and tolerance will not go in vain and will be remembered for a very long time.
Shahbaz Bhatti was PPP's global ambassador for interfaith harmony, who was seen in the world as the party's face of tolerance, harmony and respect for minorities in accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan and the PPP manifesto, the President said.
Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that the President expressed these views while talking to the family members of Shahbaz Bhatti who called on him on Tuesday at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. Bhatti's family members who met the President included his mother Martha Jacob Bhatti, brothers Paul Bhatti, Peter Bhatti, Gerard Bhatti, Sikander Bhatti and sister Jacqueline Bhatti.
The President said that the PPP would request the government to appoint a Special Assistant for minorities from amongst the family of Shahbaz Bhatti as our token of admiration and also to demonstrate a commitment to pursue the objectives of interfaith harmony held so dear by Shahbaz Bhatti.
The party would hold a condolence meeting for Shahbaz Bhatti, Salman Taseer and martyrs of democracy in the Presidency, the President said. The President, while condoling the tragic death of Bhatti with his mother said that he was deeply grieved over the sad demise of his son. "The death of one's son is a great personal loss and in this hour of grief my thoughts and prayers are with you and all members of your family," the spokesperson quoted the President as saying.
Governor Punjab Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, Federal Minster for information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan were also present on the occasion. Babar further informed that today's scheduled meeting of the President with PPP's MPAs from Punjab has been postponed due to the death of Federal Minister for Environment Samina Khalid Ghurki's husband. New date will be announced later, he said.
The President also expressed his deep condolence over the demise of Khalid Ghurki. The President said that Khalid Ghurki was a great Party loyalist whose sacrifices for democracy will be long remembered.-PR