In the National Assembly all the parliamentarians observed 2-minute silence to mourn the brutal killing by rising from their seats except three members of Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam who kept sitting as this was against their brand of Islam
In less than two months time a sitting Governor of the largest province and the only Christian minister in the federal cabinet, both from the ruling party, have been gunned down in broad daylight, in the most secure city of this country. So who remains safe in the holy land? The simple answer is nobody.
Four months before his murder, in an interview with BBC, Mr.Shahbaz had openly expressed his apprehensions regarding threat to his life for voicing his concerns against discrimination targeting the weaker sections of society, and defending the rights of the poor, generally from communities which constitute 3.7% of our total population and are so very often subjected to the worst kind of injustices, under the blasphemy law. In the same interview he said that “he was not afraid to die “and will not stop “speaking for the oppressed and marginalized Christians and other minorities”.
The Blasphemy law stays whereas the body of Shahbaz Bhatti rests in a cold storage in the Federal capital. Not very far is the Parliament building, where the Prime Minister, on the floor of the house, suggested that a discussion may be initiated on the murder of Shahbaz. That appeared to be the optimum he could do. However, in the National Assembly all the parliamentarians observed 2-minute silence to mourn the brutal killing by rising from their seats except three members of Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam who kept sitting as this was against their brand of Islam.  Also not very far from the mortuary is the Presidential Palace where the PM’s boss Mr.Zardari said that a particular mentality had killed Shahbaz. The same expression he used while referring to the murder of his wife. The electronic media, always in search of some hot stuff immediately focused on the events and dynamics of the breaking news, while maulvis of different brands appeared on talk shows. In one, hosted by Sana Bucha, Tahir Ashrafi of Pakistan Ulema Council, Abulkhair Zubair of JUP and Mohammad Naeem of Jamia Banuria, rather than looking at indigenous factors, as usual, labeled it a conspiracy against Islam and Pakistan aimed at destabilizing the system.
This is a clever tactic where you throw the onus on someone else; secure your belief system while avoiding the real issues manage to get ample time to bash others and sermonize too. Soon they were fighting among themselves until the host had to intervene. Maulana Javed Ahmad Ghamidi, currently in exile in Malaysia, due to grave threat to his life, in his own country, because of his progressive views on Islam, clearly stated that since the militant outfits were and are still being patronized by the security establishment for its own vested interests, the chickens have come home to roost. He expressed concern that presently it had become impossible in Pakistan to express an opinion on a sensitive issue, lest, someone might misread you. He further added that the bulk of responsibility, under the current circumstances, fell on the shoulders of politicians and Ulema.
Waseem Altaf ,
Courtesy to View Point
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription