Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan Minister for Minorities, is receiving death threats for pursuing justice for Gojra victims

Pakistan's Federal Minister for Minorities, Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti, has received death threats from members of banned militant organizations for pursuing justice for victims of Gojra violence, learnt from well-placed sources.
Gojra, a small town in province Punjab of Pakistan, exploded into the international limelight when Muslims set on fire over fifty houses on August 1, following rumors that Christians had committed blasphemy. Some seven Christians lost their lives as a result of the incident and the brutal attack left scores of Christians injured. Most of Christian residents of the area have fled the town fearing more trouble from extremists. What has alerted Mr. Bhatti is that Pakistan's religious affairs minister, Hamid Syed Kazmir, was wounded and his driver killed in a drive-by shooting in the capital Islamabad on September 2, 2009.

We have learned that Mr. Bhatti has received written letters and messages from militants, warning him to stop campaigning against misuse of blasphemy laws and pursuing justice for victims of Gojra.

On September 4, 2009 the Bhatti testified before the Inquiry Commission which was set up to look into the Gojra tragedy.

We have also learnt that statements of some militant elements have also been published in some sections of Pakistani print media in which they have warned that they would not allow anyone to touch the country's controversial blasphemy laws.

Shahbaz Bhatti, who is also the chairman of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA), an umbrella organization of minorities, has been campaigning for the protection of minority rights, religious freedom and the repeal of all discriminatory laws against minorities in Pakistan since 1985.

In the past, Mr. Bhatti has faced an assassination attempt, torture and victimization for raising a voice against Pakistan Sharia Laws and injustices against minorities. He has been a vocal voice against the defunct militant groups, who are involved in violence and terrorism in Pakistan.

Mr. Bhatti has vehemently condemned violence against the Christians of Korian and Gojra and stood with the victims in their difficult time.

On August 2, 2009, when the victims of Gojra violence had blocked the railway track and were demanding registration of Police First Information Report (FIR) against the culprits of the attacks, the local government did not heed to their demand and instead started employing dilly-dallying tactics which further dampened their hope of the Christians ever getting justice.

The Federal Minister joined the protesting victims and staged a sit-in along with the victims who were protesting by laying bodies of the Christians, who had lost their lives in the wake of Gojra violence.

Mr. Bhatti on that occasion had announced that he would not go from the scene until the FIR was lodged. This statement had the desired effect and prompted the authorities to lodge FIR against the culprits.

Expressing solidarity with them, the Federal Minister also asked the protesting victims to remain peaceful.

The Federal Minister also accompanied Pakistan Prime Minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, Governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer, Chief Minister of Punjab, Mian Shahbaz SharifShahbaz Sharif, and other members of parliament during the visit to Gojra.

Pakistan Federal Minister for Interior Rehman MalikRehman Malik has said that the government would not allow anyone to destabilize Pakistan and the country's President, Asif Ali ZardariAsif Ali Zardari, and Prime Minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, have vowed that Pakistan would continue to fight against terrorism.

Several minority leaders in Pakistan have expressed concern over Mr. Bhatti's safety in the wake of the death threats to him by militants. They have appealed to Christian brethren across the world to pray for him at this difficult