‘Bhatti’s murder a threat to freedom of speech’
HAFEEZ SHAIKH
HYDERABAD – Proclaiming condemnation over brutal assassination of Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, Shahbaz Bhattl, the members of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Thursday staged a protest demonstration outside the Hyderabad Press Club.
The protest demonstration was staged by Special Task Force for Sindh HRCP wherein noted Scholars and human rights activist recorded their condemnation over the said reprehensible act carrying placards and banners.
While talking to the journalists, Coordinator Special Task Force Dr Ashok Thama censured the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti and said that murder of the minister followed by murder of Salman Taseer was an obvious danger to the freedom of speech in the country.
His assassination is a repugnant act aimed at quashing freedom of speech in the country.
“The assassins are trying to suppress those who speak of rights and supports truth”. Thama said.
Expressing sympathies to the bereaved family members of the deceased, the members of HRCP demanded immediate arrests of the assassins.
The Christian community of Hyderabad also staged a protest demonstration against the assassination of minorities’ leader and Federal Minister Shahbaz Bhatti.
Led by Rev Father Samson Shukardin of Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad and Rev Father Daniel Fayaz of Church of Pakistan Diocese of Hyderabad, the protesters said their community was deeply grieved at the merci less killing of Shaheed Shahbaz Bhatti.
They said the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti was a great tragedy not only for the Christians but for the entire nation.
Holding placards and banners, they appealed President of Pakistan, Prime Minister, the Chief Justice and the Chief of Army Staff to immediately arrest and punish the criminals for their heinous crime, to establish and enforce rule of law without, discrimination and prejudice for all Pakistanis, and to accord due rights’ and privileges to the religious minorities as equal and true citizens of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the HRCP also condemned despicable murder of district coordinator HRCP Naeem Sabir carried out in Khuzadar and stated that the twin murders might carried out by different anti-social groups but they illustrated the same menace which was extremism.
Source: The Nation
Date:3/4/2011
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