Pak lawmakers blame 'lapse of security' for Bhatti's assassination

Islamabad, Mar 4: A majority of Pakistan's parliamentarians have blamed a 'lapse of security' for the assassination of Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti.

Bhatti was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Islamabad on Wednesday for championing the case of Aasia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who was sentenced to death last Nov for allegedly committing blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.

National Assembly members condemned Bhatti's brutal killing and termed it "a total failure on the part of the government", The Daily Times reports.

The House was informed that despite Bhatti informing the government about receiving security threats, the government neither provided him proper security of a bulletproof vehicle nor accommodation in the Ministers' Enclave.

Speaking on the occasion, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) MNA Asiya Nasir demanded that the government take appropriate measures for ensuring protection of the rights of minorities in the country.

She also demanded that the Chief Justice take suo motu notice of Bhatti's killing.

"The minority communities could not even imagine disrespect toward the Holy Prophet," she said, adding, "Assassination of Bhatti reflects security lapse and the government should take concrete steps for minorities' protection."

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA, Nelson Azeem, said that Pakistan had been established in the name of religion and was now being destroyed in the name of religion.

ANI