Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Islamabad (Fides Service) - "The investigations into the murder of my brother Shabhaz are finally on the right track: it is the work carried out by the Taliban and Islamic fanatics. Now we are waiting for the capture of the perpetrators of the crime, who are in Dubai. The Minister of Interior, Rehman Malik, has announced an international arrest warrant": is what Paul Bhatti, brother of the late Catholic minister Shabhaz Bhatti, and currently Special Advisor to the Prime minister for religious minorities says to Fides. In an interview with Fides, Paul Bhatti commented on the results of the inquiry on behalf of the Pakistani government regarding the culprits of the murder . The Commission of Inquiry organized by the Interior Minister announced that, according to investigations carried out, the murder was organized by the "Brigade 313" of Al Qaeda, known as "ghost army" and led by the Pakistani Taliban leader Ilyas Kashmiri . According to the report of the Commission, the group commissioned a commander of the Taliban in the province of Punjab, Asmatullah Mawaia, to eliminate the minister, the plan was then executed by elements of the extremist group "Tehrik-e-Islami", along with a faction of the group "Ghazi Force in Islamabad".
Paul Bhatti says to Fides: "After the sidetracking of the inquiry and attempts of reducing the charge of murder due to personal enmity, slinging mud at my brother, the truth is emerging: we were convinced that he was killed for his commitment to human rights, the rights of Christians, for the brave denunciation against the blasphemy law. Now the investigation proves us right. We are hoping for a rapid conclusion, with the capture of the perpetrators of the crime. It would be a good sign for the health of the state of law in Pakistan". "To honor the memory of my brother - he concludes - we will continue his work and his mission, working for the protection of religious minorities throughout the country".
The "Brigade 313" is the military organization of Al Qaeda in Pakistan and is responsible for numerous attacks, which contains Taliban and Islamic jihadist groups with different backgrounds such as: "Laskhar-e-Jhangvi", "Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami", "Lashkar-e-Taiba", "Jaish-e-Mohammed" , "Jundallah" and others. According to some analysts, the brigade has infiltrated in the army and in the Pakistani intelligence services. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 30/06/2011)
