Pakistan: Christian Government Minister slain

Written by Super User 06 Mar 2011

Unknown assailants sprayed bullets at minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti a Christian who defied death threats following the murder of another politician opposed to Pakistan’s blasphemy law which carries the death penalty. While no one has been killed for blasphemy the law is used to exploit others motivated by personal enmity or because of business disputes. Controversy flared when Christian mother of five, Aasia Bibi, was sentenced to death for blasphemy following a dispute over land. She was in competition for a valuable piece of land with local Muslims and they accused her of blaspheming against Islam when they failed to gain control of it. Aasia is desperate to have her death sentence overturned, extremists are offering rewards for her killer. Bhatti’s assassination raises fresh questions and concern about the safety of Sherry Rehman, a parliamentarian who also championed reform of the blasphemy laws. She has been living in semi-hiding since January.

Pray: that those who hate justice and detest the truth be silent (Am.5:10) and the establishment of justice to prevent assassination of Christians. (Am.9:14)

More: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iFbLhynC2UCN5TCtTy5sXpEhUPYQ?docId=CNG.e61362f2571b82e187f2be9fe2ed8c2f.4d1

Additional Info