Gilani attends prayers for Shahbaz Bhatti; says Bhatti’s death great loss to nation
ISLAMABAD, Mar 4 (APP) - Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday attended the prayers for the late Minorities Affair Minister Shahbaz Bhatti held here at a local church. Gilani as a mark of respect stood silent. Bhatti was assassinated on Wednesday by unknown gunmen in Islamabad as he left the residence of his mother. The Prime Minister in his remarks on the occasion eulogized the services and contribution of late Shahbaz Bhatti as the member of parliament, a federal minister and a party leader, particularly for promoting inter-faith harmony in the country.
“It is a sad day. I was totally shocked (on the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti), because he was not only a great leader, was not only allied with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), but was a friend and worker of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto,” he added.
The Prime Minister said Shahbaz Bhatti, owing to his dedication and hard work and his mission for inter-faith harmony, had earned an image nationally and internationally.
“His (Bhatti’s) death is a great loss to the nation, great loss to the party, great loss to the parliament and a great loss to our cabinet”, Gilani remarked.
The Prime Minister said founder of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah always spoke for the rights of minorities, adding, the white colour in Pakistani national flag also represents the country’s minorities.
Gilani said the culprits of this heinous crime would soon be brought to justice.
Apart from the family the ceremony was attended by parliamentarians, diplomats, friends and members of the Christian community and Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Minister for Kashmir and Baltistan Affairs Manzoor Wattoo.
The last rites of Shahbaz Bhatti were held at his native village in Faisalabad on Friday evening.
The government has announced a three-day mourning on the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti and the national flag remained at half mast on Friday.