ASIA/PAKISTAN - Religious minorities “urge an independent Commission of inquiry to investigate Bhatti's murder”

Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) – Religious minorities in Pakistan call on the Government to institute a independent Commission of inquiry, directed by a Supreme Court Judge, to investigate the homicide of the Federal Minister for Religious Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti. This was confirmed to Fides by Paul Bhatti, Minister Shahbaz's brother and current Director of the “All Pakistan Minorities Alliance” (APMA), the network founded by Shahbaz Bhatti to promote the rights of religious minorities in Pakistan.
“We are not at all satisfied about how the enquiries are progressing the investigations,” explains Bhatti to Fides. “In the team conducting the investigations there are ambiguous people carrying on work that is unclear. They are even trying to take another track, to clear the Islamic extremists from blame and look for causes of the murder among personal enmities.”
Yesterday in Islamabad, the APMA officially submitted the request to the Pakistani Government. “We do not even exclude an International Commission of inquiry, if at a national level the survey were to be shelved,” remarked Bhatti.
Bhatti, a resident in Italy for years, then said not to exclude the possibility of becoming Federal Minister for Minorities, in place of his brother, “pending a formal proposal by the Government, outlining the margins of responsibilities and the concrete opportunity to work for the promotion of religious minorities.” “Even though I am a doctor and have no political experience,” notes Paul Bhatti, “I would sacrifice myself for this important mission, even though I know it brings with it serious concerns about security conditions in the Country.”
Drawing a picture of the situation in Pakistan, Najmi Saleem, Christian, head of APMA in Punjab, remarked to Fides: “The situation for religious minorities and for Christians is not easy. A climate of intolerance rules. In the APMA we will continue the mission of Shahbaz Bhatti as the nation needs harmony, peace and tolerance.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 22/3/2011)