LAHORE – The Community Development Initiative (CDI) organised a candlelight vigil at the Chairing Cross on Saturday in honour of assassinated federal minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti. Protesters, including Christians held banners, condemning the cold-blooded murder and flayed the federal government’s incompetence in protecting its ministers and minorities. They condemned the politically-motivated murder and said that Bhatti’s death was an irreparable loss to the people of his constituency, especially Christians.
“We believe his sacrifice will have a profound effect on this entire struggle for human rights. We are indebted to his services for Christians,” protesters said. The CDI demanded the federal government bring the killers to justice and establish the writ of law. They said that the government’s policy of appeasement and exposing the most vulnerable brackets of society including minorities, women and workers to danger was not right.
Bhatti belonged to Khushpur Village, near Faisalabad, and his sacrifice has refreshed the memory of late Bishop John Joseph, who also belonged to this village, they said. The protesters said that they honour the sons of the soil who have given their lives to save others.