Pakistan’s Shahbaz Bhatti
remembered for commitment to poor, persecuted
 |
| Shahbaz Bhatti |
Nine years ago, on March 2, 2011, Bhatti, Pakistan’s
Minister for Minorities, was assassinated in Islamabad.
By Robin Gomes
“Shahbaz Bhatti was a man of deep faith and a fearless
leader.” This is how Father Emmanuel Parvez, a parish priest of
Faisalabad Diocese, remembered the Catholic minister on the 9th anniversary
of his assassination.
“He had received death threats and to those who advised him
to emigrate, he said: ‘I am a disciple of Christ, I will never abandon my
country and my people,’” Fr. Parvez said at a commemorative event organized on
Sunday to recall the 9th anniversary of Bhatti’s death in the
hands of an Islamic terrorist. Bhatti was “always active for trying to
create awareness among the poor and voiceless, supporting them and defending
their cause before the authorities”. “At any time or place where
injustice was committed, he tried to make himself the mouthpiece of the
suffering and persecuted,” said the priest who is a relative of Bhatti and
comes from Bhatti's Khuspur village.
Among those who attended the commemorative celebration were
representatives of the “All Pakistan Minorities Alliance” and the
non-government organization, "Shahbaz Mission", initiated by Paul
Bhatti, brother of Shahbaz.
Father Parvez also recalled Bhatti’s criticism of Pakistan’s
controversial blasphemy laws and was particularly vocal in the defence of the
Catholic woman, Asia Bibi, who was falsely accused of blasphemy in 2009 and
sentenced to death in 2010.
This led to his assassination. On March 2, 2011, as Bhatti
was travelling to work, after visiting his mother, an unknown gunman sprayed
his car with bullets.
Earlier on January 4, former Punjab governor, Salman Taseer,
was also gunned down for the same reasons by his own bodyguard.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court acquitted Bibi on October 31, 2018,
ordering her release. She and her family have been offered asylum in
Canada.
According to Father Parvez, “The acquittal of Asia Bibi is a
sign of hope because it is a victory of truth and justice”. “Shahbaz's
sacrifice and commitment have not been in vain", he noted, hoping that
Pakistan does not succumb to extremism and terrorism, and that the awareness
about the abuse of the blasphemy laws will grow across the nation and not make
innocent people suffer.
According to Paul Bhatti, his brother “was an authentic
patriot, a true son of Pakistan”. “His memory honours our country. The
reason is this: he gave his life to promote a Pakistan where law, justice,
freedom and equality were principles to be respected and lived,” Paul told the
Vatican’s Fides news agency.
A commemoration has been planned for Wednesday in Bhatti’s
native village of Khuspur to remember his human and spiritual heritage.
More than 2,000 people are expected to gather at Bhatti’s home that
houses a museum and where a memorial is scheduled to be built in his
honour.
Father Parvez said they will remember his life and works.
“He was an angel for Pakistan, a gift of God to the nation.”
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