KARACHI – The Sindh Assembly on Friday passed a unanimous resolution condemning the murder of Federal Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti and declaring it “another attack on disturbing peace and progress of Pakistan”. The resolution was jointly moved by PPP, MQM and PML-F members including PPP’s Sindh Electric Power Minister Shazia Marri, Dr Sikandar Mandhro, Pitambar Sewhani, and Dr Ahmed Ali Shah, MQM’s Khawaja Izharul Hassan and PML-F’s Nusrat Saher Abbasi.
Speaking on the resolution, Marri said that non-Muslim citizens of the country display the same spirit that the Muslim citizens have for the country and play due role in the prosperity of the country. “Such attempts cannot deter the government and the bright-minded, progressive people of the country,” she added.
Condemning the assassination of Bhatti, Hassan said the PPP-MQM alliance was necessary for the stability of the country and Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan can only be strengthened by the unity of all political forces. Terming Bhatti’s murder a national tragedy, ANP leader and Sindh Labour Minister Ameer Nawab said that Bhatti had worked for promoting inter-religion harmony.
Minority member Pitamber Sewhani said the minorities should not be afraid to continue their services for the development of the country. PPP’s Sindh Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durrani said that like Benazir Bhutto, President Asif Ali Zardari had also given importance to minorities in the country and included Bhatti in his international tours, including his meeting with US President Barack Obama. PPP’s Wildlife Minister Dr Daya Ram said that Bhatti’s murder is a conspiracy against Islam and Pakistan.
Bhatti had clearly said that he could not even think about disrespecting the Holy Prophet (pbuh). MQM’s minority member Hargun Das said the minorities would continue their efforts for the progress of the country despite such acts.
