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What the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti means for Pakistan

The PPP’s decision to back down on blasphemy laws gives a huge boost to the country’s extremists.

By Samira Shackle Published 02 March 2011 17:56

Shahbaz Bhatti has become the second prominent Pakistani politician this year to die for his opposition to the country's blasphemy laws.

Bhatti, the minister for minorities and the only Christian member of the cabinet, was shot dead outside his home in Islamabad by four gunmen proclaiming themselves to be the "Punjabi Taliban".

Like Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab who was shot on 4 January, Bhatti advocated reform of the controversial laws, which can carry the death sentence for anyone who criticises Islam or the Prophet Muhammad. Because they do not require much concrete evidence, they are frequently abused to persecute minorities and settle personal scores.

The political tension over the issue flared up in November when a Christian woman, Aasia Bibi, was sentenced to death for allegedly blaspheming against the Prophet Muhammad. Both men spoke out in her favour.

However, they were left politically isolated when the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) – of which both were members – distanced itself from those advocating reform.

Yousuf Raza Gilani told parliament at the beginning of February that his government would not touch the legislation. "We are all unanimous that nobody wants to change the law," he said.

The statement followed pressure from the religious right, which whipped up public sentiment with huge street rallies. However, giving such a major concession sets a dangerous precedent and indicates that the government is unwilling or unable to fight the extremists in the battle for public opinion.

It also suggests that the administration has learned little from the disastrous 2009 truce with the Taliban. Under that peace agreement, Islamabad agreed to let the Taliban implement Islamic law in parts of north-western Pakistan in the hope that it would decrease the violence in the region. Predictably, the Taliban became more audacious in its move inland, and the deal soon fell apart.

There are now fresh fears for Sherry Rehman, a former PPP information minister who has championed reform. Although the Taliban have declared her "fit to be killed", she has so far refused to leave the country. She has been in semi-hiding since January.

Poignantly, Bhatti was well aware of the danger to his life, and recorded a farewell statement four months ago in which he referred to threats from the Taliban and al-Qaeda. He vowed that he would continue to speak out for minorities:

I will die to defend their rights. These threats and these warnings cannot change my opinions and principles.

The government's decision to back down to religious clerics over this issue will be hugely fortifying to the country's extremists. It does not bode well for the future of Pakistan, or for its beleaguered minorities.

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Tags: Pakistan

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19 comments

Thu, 2011-03-03 22:43 — Des Demona (not verified)

@ Olijaan
Mehidi Hasan versus beardie weirdies with a rucksack full of explosives or a Kalishnikov and a grudge against someone who doesn't agree with their religious ideology? Can you see why people would prefer the like of Mehdi Hasan to be more vocal in their condemnation?

Thu, 2011-03-03 05:23 — dillon (not verified)

the silence from the muslim world over this outrage is deafeaning,,more to the point,,where is medhi hassan now and all these muslim organisations coming out to condemm this cowardly attack on the christian community in pakistan,,the double standards and hypocrisy over issues like this by muslims is sickening..

Thu, 2011-03-03 22:56 — Olijaan

Des Demona: my point was that Mehdi has already been vocal in condemning such crimes in the recent past. Surely it isn't particularly reasonable to demand him to drop whatever he's doing to rush into print declaring "Not in my name!" every time such a crime is committed by a Muslim? That seems perilously close to implying his complicity by default simply through his sharing the faith of the perpetrators. I was kind of hoping that his track record would enable us to take this as read by now.

Thu, 2011-03-03 07:52 — Milton (not verified)

This brutal murder just goes to show what a vile, racist, apartheid entity Pakistan is. A million Hindus and sikhs were murdered at it's illegal creation and hundreds of thousands ethnically cleansed. These islamists also ethnically cleansed 100,000 Jews from lahor and Karachi. Today they persecute and murder Christians. This illegal racist state has no right to exist. It must be absorbed back into democratic India so that all it's citizens can live free from the fear of Islamist terror.

Thu, 2011-03-03 09:40 — MatthewBlott

@ dillon

Hear, hear

Thu, 2011-03-03 23:54 — Des Demona (not verified)

@ Olijaan
I have to disagree with you. Mehdi Hasan is very quick to pontificate on all things he considers an injustice towards his chosen religion. In order to seem more like a rational human being rather than a bigot then there has to be some balance. Can you really honestly say that much of the violent killing of human beings today doesn't have a connection with Islamism? Can you honestly say that Mahdi Hasan, through his blogs here isn't clearly a proponent if not a propogandist for Islam?
If so, then given the platform he has carved out for himself, he needs to decry the more vicious aspects of that religion at every opportunity. To not do so opens him up to accusations of gross hypocrisy. And for the 'political editor (senior) of the NS I can't see how that is a good thing?
Samira (the writer of this article) is a personal hero of mine because she has the guts to confront the bigots. Mehdi panders to them and encourages victimisation. That is the difference.

Thu, 2011-03-03 10:32 — MattNW5 (not verified)

It would be very nice to have Mehdi come on here and condemn this murder unequivocally. Until he does so, I am going to find myself suspecting that he doesn't care about religious intolerance unless it is directed against his own people. I may be wrong about that, but I strongly suspect I won't be alone.

Mon, 2011-03-07 05:21 — Mr Woogy (not verified)

A natural virus will depopulate this hell hole at some point, pity the Yanks cannot manufacture one sooner!

Thu, 2011-03-03 11:14 — minibai (not verified)

I wish Jinnah were alive to see what monster State he created. He was delusional in thinking that Pakistan would be a progressive and tolerant State. I hope he is turning in his grave.

Thu, 2011-03-03 11:23 — Olijaan

This latest murder - as the government's refusal to reform this controversial blasphemy law - is appalling and shows a dangerous lack of accountability. The state needs to reassert itself and confront extremism robustly, rather than pander to it.

MattNW5 and Dillon: I'm not quite sure why Mehdi - just by virtue of being a Muslim himself - is routinely called upon to condemn murders or other crimes committed by Muslims, on pain of being suspected of partiality or worse. In fact, yesterday he tweeted: "The murder of #Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian in Pakistan's cabinet, is further evidence of Pakistan's drift to "failed-state" status." - which sounds quite unequivocal.

He has also said previously that silence is not an option "when Muslim crazies start shooting and beheading non-Muslims..." http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/mehdi-hasan/2011/01/pakistan-muslims-t...

I think he's already made his position quite clear.

Thu, 2011-03-03 11:32 — MattNW5 (not verified)

@Olijaan

Fair enough re. Mehdi's tweet yesterday which I didn't see, and does sound pretty unequivocal. But he is always so quick to write long articles about the perceived sufferings of Muslims in Britain, I think white anglo-saxons on here such as myself do need some comfort that it works both ways. And if silence is not an option, then 140 characters is not much more than silence is it? Surely he can do better than that?

Thu, 2011-03-03 12:39 — Ravi Jayaram (not verified)

I agree with the post Samira. But I must point out that when Cameron said that Pakistan cannot look both ways on terrorism, i.e be ready to confront its extremists, you criticized him. I feel the spinelessness of the Pakistani government vindicates Cameron's words.

Thu, 2011-03-03 13:20 — Scotty

It says a lot about the lack of real confidence and indeed belief in their own religion by these extremists if they have to kill to defend it. If a religion cannot be maintained by reason and empathy for others then it has no value.

Wed, 2011-03-02 18:03 — swatantra

There is no future for Pakistan unless they flush out the extremists. But sacrifices will have to be made.

Wed, 2011-03-02 18:44 — gerry (not verified)

Another very sad day in the descent in Pakistan to a medieval, murderous, Iran-style hardline Islamic state...

This is what islamism, in all its forms, really means: the annihilation or subjugation of minorities, be they Christian or Ahmadi or Sufi...and Islamic extremism is growing all over Pakistan and in every Muslim country and across all Muslim communities in Europe, subsaharan Africa and the USA

I fear that now "democracy" is coming to the Arab world, this has broken down the door for islamists to take complete social and political power by the front door..with christians like Bhatti the first likely victims, and unveiled women the next... it is so depressing!

Wed, 2011-03-02 19:00 — jie4v7i14

A bad turn there?

Wed, 2011-03-02 19:57 — Fruininut

I will die to defend their rights. These threats and these warnings cannot change my opinions and principles.

What can you say other than he is a very brave worthy man that will live forever.

Wed, 2011-03-02 20:03 — SA Chaudhary (not verified)

The brutal killing of Shehbaz Bhatti cannot be endorsed or justified in any manner. It cannot be said to be killing of a minority Minister as prior to it, Salman Taseer had already met the same incident. In fact some group is exploiting the situation and even the possibility of involvement of foreign elements can also not be ruled out. All sincere Pakistani including politicians must review all the sitation at a plateform as such like religious antegonistic incidents are proving fatal for Pakistan.