Brother of assassinated Pakistani government minister speaks out

On the tenth anniversary of Shahbaz Bhatti’s assassination, his brother Peter speaks to Aid to the Church in Need. Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian in the Pakistani government, had been killed for the support he gave to religious minorities in Pakistan, such as Asia Bibi. Peter Bhatti explains that the situation in Pakistan for religious minorities such as Christians has not improved ten years after his brother’s death.

By ACN Staff

Peter Bhatti, brother of Shahbaz Bhatti. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

It has been ten years since the assassination of Pakistani government minister Shahbaz Bhatti. The Pakistani Catholic was minister for minorities in Pakistan. Shahbaz Bhatti was the first, and to this date, only Christian to be a cabinet-level minister in the federal Pakistani government. He was assassinated for the support he gave to Asia Bibi in her case when she was charged with blasphemy.

Shahbaz Bhatti. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

Ten years after his brother’s death, Peter Bhatti, has spoken to Aid to the Church in Need. Peter Bhatti is now the chairman of the International Christian Voice, a human rights organisation based in Canada. Mr. Bhatti says that things have not gotten better over the last ten years for Pakistani Christians. The issue of religious minorities being falsely accused of blasphemy, risking persecution under the unjust law, remains at large. Another issue to rise in prominence in the last few years is the kidnapping of Christians girls, with them then being forced to marry one of their kidnappers and convert to Islam.

Speaking about cases such as that of Maira Shahbaz (a teenage Catholic girl who was kidnapped but who has now escaped) Mr. Bhatti said that girls like Maira should be granted asylum in a western country. After escaping, Maira’s kidnappers have accused her of apostasy and Maira and her family are now under threat of being killed.

Reflecting on the tenth anniversary of his brother’s death, Peter Bhatti said that the government of Pakistan should take the opportunity to deal with the repression and discrimination against religious minorities in Pakistan. Mr. Bhatti details:

“The situation of minorities in Pakistan is still not improving despite all the efforts.”

While recognising that more needs to be done by the government, Peter Bhatti still praised the government for eventually realising Asia Bibi. Asia Bibi had been on death row for nearly ten years. In relation to the Pakistani government, Mr. Bhatti said:

“We will continue to knock on the door asking the government to follow the vision of [Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah] of a country open to all people, where everyone’s rights are protected…My brother’s death reminds us of the call to be a voice against oppression and constitutional discrimination.”

Shahbaz Bhatti’s grave in Gojra, Pakistan. (Credit: Magdalena Wolnik)

Mr Bhatti also said action is needed to deal with the kidnapping of Christian girls:

“Pakistan needs to take concrete steps to reduce persecution of Christians and other minorities and tackle the widespread poverty that these communities face.”

Recently Aid to the Church in Need UK handed in a petition to the British government calling on the UK to offer asylum to Maira Shahbaz.