The assassination of the Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, has raised doubts among the ordinary citizens about their safety.
It is fact that from the past few years, moderate voices are being purposely muted by the extremist factions in Pakistan. This is a sad fact, but the assassinations of Salman Taseer and now Shahbaz Bhatti have raised concern among the moderate circles about their safety and security.
This is truly one of the hardest times that Pakistan is going through. Shahbaz Bhatti was also among those who raised voice in support of amendments in the widely criticized Blasphemy law. However, his voice was also silenced by the extremists. All the moderates would have to come together at a common platform and raise their voices against the extremists in order to survive.
ZULFIQAR HAIDER
Islamabad
