The Pakistani Minorities Minister, Shahbaz Bhatti, died at the age of 42, shot by a gunman outside his mother's Islamabad home, defending the cause to which he had dedicated his life. He was assassinated for his unrelenting opposition to Pakistan's blasphemy laws and injustice and intolerance they encouraged. In his official capacity,he represented the interests of Pakistan's religious minorities. How ever ,Bhatti also stood for those subscribing to the vision of Pakistan's founding father,Muhammad Ali Jinnah, characterized by pluralism,freedom of religion and the rule of law.
Born to Roman Catholic parents in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, Bhatti grew up in Khuspur, a town in Faisalabad district. He was one of six children. His father, Jacob, was a teacher. In his teens,Bhatti experienced the spiritual awakening to which he attributed his life's work, saying he had decided to give his life to serve others, as he believed Christ had done for him.
Bhatti founded the Christian Liberation Front (CLF) in 1985 while studying for his master's in political science and public administration at the University of Punjab, Lahore. The movement sought to restore the rights of Pakistan's religious minirities and promote tolerance. Pakistan's population is now estimated to be 185 million, of which around 75 percent are Sunni Muslim, 20 percent Shia Muslim and 4-5 percent follow other religions. Of these,Hindus and Christians each make up 1.5-2 percent and the remaining 1 percent include Ahmadi Muslims, Baha'is, Sikhs,Buddhists, Parsis and others. The CLF initiative was a brave decision given the deteriorating tretment of non- Muslims under the regime of General Zia-ul- Haq (1977-88). The group experienced violent opposition from the start.
In 2002,Bhatti, Chaudhry and others founded the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA), and Bhatti was unanimously elected to lead this nationwide coalition of minority representatives and NGOs. APMA was founded on the back of a landmark campaign, led by Chaudhry and uniting these diverse, faith-based groups. they succeeded in convincing the government to replaceorate system, described by some as religious apartheid' under which religious minorities could vote only for candidates of their own faith. Bhatti received international awards for his leadership of CLF and APMA,but at his best working on the front lines of activism.
Batti was elected to the National Assembly in 2008 and assumed the role of Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, now a Cabinet-level position for the first time. He was the only Christian Minister. While privately lamenting the distance jos job placed between him and those he represented,Bhatti capitalized on his ministerial position.His achievements include a 5 percent minorities quota in government jobs, the first minority seats in the Senate and a 24- hour minorities helpline. He gained the respect of international leaders, as seen in the global reaction to his death.
Bhatti pioneered interfaith initiatives. He built bridges. He spoke at large mosques at the invitation of senior imams and eventually, in July 2010,secured a ground breaking joint statement from religious leaders to denounce terrorism. He further launched a network of" district interfaith harmony committees' to encourage dialogue and unite communities through common concerns.Bhatti had big plans and saw Pakistan leading the way for other countries. In his own words, he wanted to " make this world beautiful by delivering a message of peace, togetherness, unity and tolerance' His mother, four brothers and a sister survive him
Prof. John Kurakar
Born to Roman Catholic parents in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, Bhatti grew up in Khuspur, a town in Faisalabad district. He was one of six children. His father, Jacob, was a teacher. In his teens,Bhatti experienced the spiritual awakening to which he attributed his life's work, saying he had decided to give his life to serve others, as he believed Christ had done for him.
Bhatti founded the Christian Liberation Front (CLF) in 1985 while studying for his master's in political science and public administration at the University of Punjab, Lahore. The movement sought to restore the rights of Pakistan's religious minirities and promote tolerance. Pakistan's population is now estimated to be 185 million, of which around 75 percent are Sunni Muslim, 20 percent Shia Muslim and 4-5 percent follow other religions. Of these,Hindus and Christians each make up 1.5-2 percent and the remaining 1 percent include Ahmadi Muslims, Baha'is, Sikhs,Buddhists, Parsis and others. The CLF initiative was a brave decision given the deteriorating tretment of non- Muslims under the regime of General Zia-ul- Haq (1977-88). The group experienced violent opposition from the start.In 2002,Bhatti, Chaudhry and others founded the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA), and Bhatti was unanimously elected to lead this nationwide coalition of minority representatives and NGOs. APMA was founded on the back of a landmark campaign, led by Chaudhry and uniting these diverse, faith-based groups. they succeeded in convincing the government to replaceorate system, described by some as religious apartheid' under which religious minorities could vote only for candidates of their own faith. Bhatti received international awards for his leadership of CLF and APMA,but at his best working on the front lines of activism.
Batti was elected to the National Assembly in 2008 and assumed the role of Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, now a Cabinet-level position for the first time. He was the only Christian Minister. While privately lamenting the distance jos job placed between him and those he represented,Bhatti capitalized on his ministerial position.His achievements include a 5 percent minorities quota in government jobs, the first minority seats in the Senate and a 24- hour minorities helpline. He gained the respect of international leaders, as seen in the global reaction to his death.Bhatti pioneered interfaith initiatives. He built bridges. He spoke at large mosques at the invitation of senior imams and eventually, in July 2010,secured a ground breaking joint statement from religious leaders to denounce terrorism. He further launched a network of" district interfaith harmony committees' to encourage dialogue and unite communities through common concerns.Bhatti had big plans and saw Pakistan leading the way for other countries. In his own words, he wanted to " make this world beautiful by delivering a message of peace, togetherness, unity and tolerance' His mother, four brothers and a sister survive him
Prof. John Kurakar
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