The tragic assassination of Shahbaz Bhatticomes only a couple of months after another assassination of a high profile politician, Salmaan Taseer. The attack is not on minorities or the rights of minorities as both these individuals were known for their outspoken support for minority rights. But through this attack an attempt has been made to kill the rising majority voices of people renouncing violence and extremism. This cowardly attack should be renounced by every section and it is time that all of us stand united, leaving behind our fears.
Our country is going through a tough period these days, as we are facing the worst acts of terrorism carried out by various Taliban outfits. The murder of a Federal Minister is a statement by these terrorists that they can strike with impunity whenever and wherever they please. Shahbaz Bhatti known for his activism of interfaith harmony was brutally gunned down in the federal capital, considered to be the most secure place in the entire country. These terrorists will have to be eliminated once and for all as the future of our country is now under serious threat.
They have also carried out attacks on educational institutions and students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Gunmen on motorbikes injured 19 girls when they opened fire and hurled grenades at a college in Mardan. The terrorists are leaving no stone unturned to disrupt the lives of common people, through the spread of terror and chaos. It is evident that what they want is to drag our people back into the Stone Age by depriving them of their freedom and the right to live.
YASIR HAMEED
Islamabad
