Security was tight right across Pakistan today due to the funeral of slain Minister for Minority Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti.
A heavy police presence was provided for the funeral itself which took place this morning at the Catholic church of Our Lady of Fatima in Islamabad. Roads were also closed around the church, and those attending the funeral were searched and had to pass through metal detectors.
Bhatti was assassinated by religious extremists due to his active opposition to Pakistan’s blasphemy law. The blasphemy law is highly controversial and deeply unpopular with non-Muslims in Pakistan since it makes insulting Islam a crime punishable by death. The blasphemy law has been misused to settle personal scores and seize property or businesses.
Pakastani President Zardari did not attend the mass, due to fears that an assassination attempt will be made upon him, but during the one hour ceremony, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani spoke to the audience of about 1,000 people, saying:
"People like him, they are very rare. All the minorities have lost a great leader. I assure you, we will try our utmost to bring the culprits to justice."
Bhatti was the only minister in the Pakastani government who was a Christian. Christians only make up around 5% of Pakistan’s total population, and according the Gilani the minorities have lost a great champion.
"Today is a very sad day," Gilani emphasised. "The founding father of Pakistan had one wish: He taught the people of Pakistan to give the rights and protection to the minorities... People like him are very rare. All the minorities have lost a great leader."
“[Shahbaz Bhatti] was working for inter-faith harmony," he emphasised.
Christians have taken to the streets right across the country to mourn Bhatti’s tragic passing and to protest against the discrimination they say they are facing everyday. Some Christians hung a banner on the street in honor of Bhatti that read, “We strongly condemn the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti, the protagonist of truth and religious harmony.”
The government has declared three days of mourning for Bhatti, but as Pakistan reflects on his passing, it can only be hoped that the message of his life wins through and others will be inspired to similarly work towards religious harmony and tolerance.