Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - The religious minorities of Pakistan are "ready to take to the streets for the salvation of the Muslim Shahbaz Tasser", kidnapped a week ago. This is what is reported to Fides by Paul Bhatti, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Religious Minorities Affairs and leader of the "All Pakistan Minorities Alliance" (APMA), the largest organization of leaders and members of minority religious communities (Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and others) in the Pakistani civil society.
Shahbaz Taseer is the son of former Punjab Governor, Salman Taseer, who was killed on January 4, 2011 by his bodyguard, for his opposition to the law on blasphemy, and for defending Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy. For months Taseer’s family have suffered threats and intimidation by Islamic fundamentalist groups, but received little protection from the government of the province of Punjab. According to observers, Shahbaz Taseer’s kidnapping is a move organized by Islamic groups to put pressure on judges and to obtain the release of Mumtaz Qadri, the bodyguard who killed Salman Taseer, and considered a "hero".
Paul Bhatti - Christian and brother of the Federal Minister for Religious Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, also killed on March 2, last year –says to Fides: "We expressed our grievances to the government. If we do not obtain results, we are ready to demonstrate in public". In fact, Bhatti explains, "the kidnapping is a very worrying sign for the country: it is not acceptable that a person belonging to any religion, cannot live their life peacefully. It is a matter of fundamental freedom and the rule of law".
"In this case, not only the pressures of religious minorities are at stake", explains Bhatti. "We want to defend Taseer as a citizen of Pakistan. A strong signal to stop these extremists is needed and citizens must not be left at the mercy of criminal groups". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 02/09/2011)
