KARACHI – US President Barrack Obama and the United Kingdom have condemned and expressed deep sorrow and grief over the assassination of minorities’ minister Shahbaz Bhatti. “I am deeply saddened by the assassination of Pakistan’s Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti today in Islamabad, and condemn in the strongest possible terms this horrific act of violence,” a White House statement quoted the president as saying. The statement was issued by Office of the Press Secretary on March 2.
Offering profound condolences to his family, loved ones and all who knew and worked with him, Obama said Bhatti fought for and sacrificed his life for the universal values that Pakistanis, Americans and people around the world hold dear. “The right to speak one’s mind, to practice one’s religion as one chooses, and to be free from discrimination based on one’s background or beliefs,” he said adding “He was clear-eyed about the risks of speaking out, and, despite innumerable death threats, he insisted he had a duty to his fellow Pakistanis to defend equal rights and tolerance from those who preach division, hate, and violence.”
Obama lauded Bhatti for courageously challenging the blasphemy laws of Pakistan “under which individuals have been prosecuted for speaking their minds or practicing their own faiths”.
“Those who committed this crime should be brought to justice, and those who share Bhatti’s vision of tolerance and religious freedom must be able to live free from fear,” the US president said. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was “appalled by the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti”. “This was a cowardly attack on a democratically elected government minister and an attempt by extremists to silence free speech and debate in one of the world’s largest democracies.
I utterly condemn the actions of these extremists, which fly in the face of the courageous fight for democratic rights and justice being waged in other parts of the Islamic world.” He said Bhatti’s “death is a tragic loss for Pakistan, and for all people who believe in human rights and freedom of speech. I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Bhatti’s family”.
In addition, Foreign Office Minister for South Asia Alistair Burt said: “The assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti marks a new low point in Pakistan’s struggle against violent religious extremism. Shahbaz Bhatti was a powerful voice against extremism and a fearless voice for tolerance and respect for minorities. His death is a tragic loss for Pakistan.”
