:Shahbaz Bhatti

Bhatti was born in Lahore to Christian parents from the Faisalabad District. His father, Jacob Bhatti, worked as an officer of the British Army, then as a teacher, before becoming chairman of the board of churches in Khushpur.{{Cite news |last=Bentham |first=Annabelle |date=10 March 2011 |title=Shahbaz Bhatti obituary |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/10/shahbaz-bhatti-obituary |url-status=live |access-date=21 June 2023 |archive-date=9 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409214521/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/10/shahbaz-bhatti-obituary}} On 10 December 1995, Human Rights Day, Bhatti married Salma Peter John, a human rights activist. However, after Bhatti’s death, his family has denied that this wedding ever took place and insists that Salma was only Bhatti's employee. In March 2013, she sought asylum in the United States following repeated intimidation and death threats from Bhatti's family.{{Cite web |date=2014-09-25 |title=Shahbaz Bhatti's wife claims death threats by his family |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/766901/shahbaz-bhattis-wife-claims-death-threats-by-his-family |access-date=2021-05-31 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en |archive-date=11 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211103652/https://tribune.com.pk/story/766901/shahbaz-bhattis-wife-claims-death-threats-by-his-family |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Tanveer |first=Rana |date=2 March 2016 |title=Five years on: Shahbaz Bhatti's 'widow' demands recognition |work=The Express Tribune |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1058095/five-years-on-shahbaz-bhattis-widow-demands-recognition |url-status=live |access-date=21 June 2023 |archive-date=13 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313055713/http://tribune.com.pk/story/1058095/five-years-on-shahbaz-bhattis-widow-demands-recognition/}}

Bhatti founded the Christian Liberation Front in 1985, while studying public administration at the University of the Punjab in Lahore.{{cite book|author=Human Rights Commission of Pakistan|title=State of human rights in 2003|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QfKEAAAAMAAJ|year=2004|publisher=Human Rights Commission of Pakistan|isbn=978-969-8324-17-9}} He founded the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) in 2002 and was unanimously elected as its chairman.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/10/shahbaz-bhatti-obituary |location=London |work=The Guardian |first=Annabelle |last=Bentham |title=Shahbaz Bhatti obituary |date=10 March 2011 |access-date=17 December 2016 |archive-date=9 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409214521/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/10/shahbaz-bhatti-obituary |url-status=live}} He met with President Pervez Musharraf as part of a group of minority rights advocates.{{cite book |title=Charisma and Christian life |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WnbfAAAAMAAJ |year=2002 |publisher=Strang Communications Co.}} Bhatti joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in 2002,{{cite news |url=http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/02/profile-shahbaz-bhatti.html |title=Profile: Shahbaz Bhatti |work=Dawn |date=2 March 2011 |access-date=20 October 2016 |archive-date=25 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825125545/http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/02/profile-shahbaz-bhatti.html |url-status=live}} but remained outside politics until becoming a minister in 2008. He was placed on the government's Exit Control List in 2003, but was removed in November of that year.{{cite book |author=Senate (U S ) Committee on Foreign Relations |title=Annual Report on International Religious Freedom, 2004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=04dlwzB2SvcC&pg=PA668 |date=August 2005 |publisher=Government Printing Office |isbn=978-0-16-072552-4 |page=668}}

Bhatti was appointed as Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs on 2 November 2008, when, for the first time, the post was elevated to cabinet level and an independent ministry created. At the time, he said that he accepted the post for the sake of the "oppressed, down-trodden and marginalized" of Pakistan, and that he had dedicated his life to the "struggle for human equality, social justice, religious freedom, and to uplift and empower religious minorities' communities." He added that he wanted to send "a message of hope to the people living a life of disappointment, disillusionment and despair", and also stated his commitment to reforming the country's blasphemy laws.

During his time as federal minister, he took numerous steps in support of religious minorities. These included the launch of a national campaign to promote interfaith harmony, the proposal of legislation to ban hate speech and related literature, the proposed introduction of comparative religion as a curriculum subject, the introduction of quotas for religious minorities in government posts, and the reservation of four Senate seats for minorities. Bhatti also spearheaded the organisation of a National Interfaith Consultation in July 2010, which brought together senior religious leaders of all faiths from across Pakistan and resulted in a joint declaration against terrorism.{{Cite web |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/31096/interfaith-conference-issues-declaration-against-terror/ |title=The Express Tribune, Interfaith conference issues declaration against terror, July 2010 |date=25 July 2010 |access-date=7 September 2011 |archive-date=15 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815052727/http://tribune.com.pk/story/31096/interfaith-conference-issues-declaration-against-terror/ |url-status=live}}

Bhatti had been the recipient of death threats since 2009, when he spoke in support of Pakistani Christians attacked in the 2009 Gojra riots in Punjab Province. These threats increased following his support for Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian sentenced to death in 2010 for blasphemy.{{cite web |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/142473/bhatti-kthreat-his-life-taliban.html |title=Bhatti knew about threat to his life from Taliban, Qaeda |date=2 March 2011 |access-date=20 October 2016 |archive-date=8 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408225843/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/142473/bhatti-kthreat-his-life-taliban.html |url-status=live}} The United States had tried to obtain increased security for him and get him an armoured car but was unsuccessful.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/04/world/asia/04pakistan.html |title=U.S. Tried to Help Protect Slain Pakistani Minister |last=Perlez |first=Jane |date=3 March 2011 |work=The New York Times |access-date=3 March 2011 |archive-date=4 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904044741/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/04/world/asia/04pakistan.html |url-status=live}} Bhatti himself foretold his death and recorded a video, which was to be released in case of his death, where he said "I believe in Jesus Christ who has given his own life for us, and I am ready to die for a cause. I'm living for my community ... and I will die to defend their rights."{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,2058155,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204111217/http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,2058155,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 February 2013 |title=In Pakistan, Justifying Murder for Those Who Blaspheme |last=Baker |first=Aryn |date=21 March 2011 |magazine=TIME |access-date=11 March 2011}}

According to the BBC, Bhatti was travelling to work through a residential district, having just left his mother's home, when his vehicle was sprayed with bullets. At the time of the attack he was alone, without any security. His driver reports having stopped the car and ducked when he saw armed men approaching rather than attempting to evade the threat.{{citation needed|date=March 2011}} Bhatti was taken to a nearby hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival. Leader of the Pakistani Taliban Asmatullah Muiawiya (killed in an air strike in 2017) told the BBC that his group carried out the attack because Bhatti was a "known blasphemer."{{cite news |date=2 March 2011 |title=Pakistan Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti shot dead |work=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12617562 |access-date=3 March 2011 |archive-date=2 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302231900/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12617562 |url-status=live}} Paul Bhatti, Bhatti's brother, became Minister of National Harmony and Minority Affairs as well as Chairman of the APMA following the assassination.{{Cite web |title=Paul Bhatti |url=https://ucs.nd.edu/rome-conference/speakers-panelists/paul-bhatti/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 June 2023 |website=University of Notre Dame |archive-date=21 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621031429/https://ucs.nd.edu/rome-conference/speakers-panelists/paul-bhatti/}}{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=June 2023}} A Christian who had criticised Pakistan's blasphemy laws, his death follows that of Punjab Province governor Salman Taseer, who was also killed on 4 January 2011, amid the controversy over the blasphemy law.

On the day following Bhatti's assassination, hundreds of Christian demonstrators reportedly took to the streets across Punjab, with protesters burning tires and demanding justice.{{Cite news |first=Declan |last=Walsh |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/03/pakistan-christians-shahbaz-bhatti-assassination |title=Pakistani Christians protest after assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti |work=The Guardian |date=3 March 2011 |access-date=17 December 2016 |archive-date=13 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313234110/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/03/pakistan-christians-shahbaz-bhatti-assassination |url-status=live}} According to Minorities Concern of Pakistan, "Investigators are divided over the assassination case with some in the Islamabad police pointing the fingers at the Taliban and al-Qaeda". A pamphlet found at his crime scene mentioned the Punjabi Taliban.{{cite news |date=3 March 2011 |title=Things fall apart |newspaper=The Economist |url=http://www.economist.com/node/18285912?story_id=18285912 |url-status=live |access-date=9 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312091435/http://www.economist.com/node/18285912?story_id=18285912 |archive-date=12 March 2011}}{{cite news |date=2 March 2011 |title=Terrorists silence another voice of interfaith harmony |newspaper=Dawn |url=http://beta.dawn.com/news/610290/terrorists-silence-another-voice-of-interfaith-harmony |url-status=live |access-date=3 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003223651/http://beta.dawn.com/news/610290/terrorists-silence-another-voice-of-interfaith-harmony |archive-date=3 October 2013}} Later in 2011, an attempt was also made to shift the blame to "internal squabbles" among Christians.{{cite web |last=Mughal |first=Aftab Alexander |title=Al Qaeda connections may provide impunity for murder in Pakistan |publisher=Spero News |date=2 July 2011 |url=http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idCategory=33&idsub=122&id=56430&t=Al+Qaeda+connections+may+provide+impunity+for+murder+in+Pakistan |access-date=2 July 2011 |archive-date=7 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407081930/http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idCategory=33&idsub=122&id=56430&t=Al+Qaeda+connections+may+provide+impunity+for+murder+in+Pakistan |url-status=dead}} According to the same group, the identity of Bhatti's murderer was still unknown. In the months that followed, minority groups in Pakistan demanded the formation of a commission to probe the Bhatti case.{{cite web |last=Mughal |first=Aftab Alexander |title=Murder of Pakistan's minister for minority affairs still unresolved |publisher=Spero News |date=4 May 2011 |url=http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idCategory=33&idsub=122&id=53262&t=Murder+of+Pakistan%27s+minister+for+minority+affairs+still+unresolved |access-date=4 May 2011 |archive-date=7 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407081735/http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idCategory=33&idsub=122&id=53262&t=Murder+of+Pakistan%27s+minister+for+minority+affairs+still+unresolved |url-status=dead}}

;Domestic

• Farahnaz Ispahani, an aide to President Asif Ali Zardari, condemned the assassination, saying: "This is a concerted campaign to slaughter every liberal, progressive and humanist voice in Pakistan." President Zardari vowed to combat the forces of obscurantism, and said, "we will not be intimidated nor will we retreat." The government declared three days of mourning. However, when the prime minister, Yousaf Raza Gillani, led a two-minute silence in parliament, three members of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam party remained seated. Rafi Usmani, the grand mufti of Pakistan, referred to the possibility of the assassination being "an American conspiracy to defame the government of Pakistan, Muslims and Islam." The Pakistani delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Council, Asim Ahmad, said that it would not be right to link Bhatti's murder to the issue of blasphemy. Ahmad said freedom of speech could not justify defamation and blasphemy; "It is important to prevent the deliberate campaign of defamation of Islam and its Prophet."{{cite web |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/127504/dont-link-ministers-murder-to-blasphemy/ |title=Don't link minister's murder to blasphemy: Pakistani UN delegate |date=4 March 2011 |work=The Express Tribune |access-date=4 March 2011 |archive-date=5 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305042633/http://tribune.com.pk/story/127504/dont-link-ministers-murder-to-blasphemy/ |url-status=live}}

;Foreign

• The European Union condemned the murder, and expressed their concern about the climate of intolerance on the controversial blasphemy laws, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on Pakistan to reform its blasphemy laws.

Leaders of Australia,{{cite web |url=http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2011/kr_mr_110303a.html |title=Statement on the assassination of Pakistan's Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti |date=3 March 2011 |work=Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs |access-date=3 March 2011 |archive-date=14 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314221601/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2011/kr_mr_110303a.html |url-status=dead}} Canada,{{cite web |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/harper-condemns-gutless-killers-of-pakistan-minister-1.614385 |title=Harper condemns 'gutless' killers of Pakistan minister |date=3 March 2011 |work=CTV Television Network |accessdate=3 March 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306164017/http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20110303/harper-bhatti-110303 |archive-date=6 March 2011}} France, Germany,{{cite web |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/126746/international-community-condemns-shahbaz-bhattis-assassination-page-9-check-this-story/ |title=International community condemns Shahbaz Bhatti's assassination |date=3 March 2011 |work=The Express Tribune |access-date=3 March 2011 |archive-date=4 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304000401/http://tribune.com.pk/story/126746/international-community-condemns-shahbaz-bhattis-assassination-page-9-check-this-story/ |url-status=live}} India,{{cite web |url=http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=530217311 |title=India condemns tragic assassination of Pak Federal Minister Shahbaz Bhatti |date=2 March 2011 |work=Ministry of External Affairs |access-date=3 March 2011 |archive-date=15 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415123125/http://meaindia.nic.in/mystart.php?id=530217311 |url-status=live}} Spain,{{cite web |url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=34303&Cat=2&dt=3/4/2011 |title=France, Canada, Spain condemn Bhatti's assassination |last=Hayat |first=Ishrat |date=4 March 2011 |work=The News International |access-date=4 March 2011 |archive-date=19 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219013446/http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=34303&Cat=2&dt=3/4/2011 |url-status=live}} UK, USA,{{cite news |url=http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/03/british-pm-condemns-unacceptable-pakistan-murder.html |title=World community condemn Bhatti's murder |date=3 March 2011 |work=Dawn |access-date=3 March 2011 |archive-date=4 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304030804/http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/03/british-pm-condemns-unacceptable-pakistan-murder.html |url-status=live}} and the Vatican{{cite news |url=http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/02/vatican-says-bhatti-killing-unspeakable.html |title=Vatican says Bhatti killing 'unspeakable' |date=2 March 2011 |work=Dawn |access-date=3 March 2011 |archive-date=5 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305092810/http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/02/vatican-says-bhatti-killing-unspeakable.html |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/06/pope-voices-great-concern-over-tensions-in-africa-asia.html |title=Pope voices 'great concern' over tensions in Africa, Asia |date=6 March 2011 |work=Dawn |access-date=6 March 2011 |archive-date=8 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110308003533/http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/06/pope-voices-great-concern-over-tensions-in-africa-asia.html |url-status=live}} expressed their shock and condemnation of his killing.

;Church

• On the first anniversary of his death Pakistani Catholic priests called for the Pakistani Catholic bishops to open the cause of canonisation for Bhatti.{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/Calls-for-Shahbaz-Bhatti-to-be-declared-a-saint-11011-2-1.html |title=Calls for Shahbaz Bhatti to be declared a saint |work=hearldmalaysia.com |access-date=6 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125150627/http://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/Calls-for-Shahbaz-Bhatti-to-be-declared-a-saint-11011-2-1.html |archive-date=25 January 2013}} Afterwards Pakistani bishops sent a formal request to the Pope to officially name Bhatti a martyr.{{cite web |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/22224/pakistan-bishops-urge-pope-to-name-shahbaz-bhatti-a-martyr |title=Pakistan bishops urge pope to name shahbaz bhatti a martyr |work=Catholic News Agency |access-date=6 September 2012 |archive-date=11 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811050905/http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pakistan-bishops-urge-pope-to-name-shahbaz-bhatti-a-martyr/? |url-status=live}} Bhatti's canonisation is also supported by Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who has said that he could be patron of "Justice and Peace in Pakistan or even Asia".{{cite web |url=http://www.sconews.co.uk/news/16940/cardinal-suggests-sainthood-for-shahbaz-bhatti/ |title=Cardinal suggests sainthood for Shahbaz Bhatti |work=sconews.co.uk |access-date=6 September 2012 |archive-date=6 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306031119/http://www.sconews.co.uk/news/16940/cardinal-suggests-sainthood-for-shahbaz-bhatti/ |url-status=dead}} The Bible owned by Shahbaz Bhatti was placed in San Bartolomeo all'Isola as a relic of a 21st-century martyr, part of the memorial to 20th- and 21st-century martyrs.{{cite web |url=http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/109003,Father-Popieluszko-in-Rome-pantheon-of-modern-martyrs |title=Father Popieluszko in Rome pantheon of modern martyrs |work=thenews.pl |access-date=6 September 2012}}

• Blasphemy law
• List of Servants of God

{{Portal|Pakistan|Biography|Politics|Saints}}

{{Clear}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{wikiquote|Clement Shahbaz Bhatti}}

• [http://sbmt.org Shahbaz Bhatti Memorial Trust], Official Website of Shahbaz Bhatti, Founded by his brother Dr.Paul Bhatti.
• [http://apmainternational.com All Pakistan Minorities Alliance] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117023304/http://www.apmainternational.com/ |date=17 January 2014 }}, Official Website of Shahbaz Bhatti's APMA.
• [http://pakistanherald.com/Profile/Shahbaz-Bhatti-993 Shahbaz Bhatti] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305092327/http://pakistanherald.com/Profile/Shahbaz-Bhatti-993 |date=5 March 2011 }}, Pakistan Herald profile.
• [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-114575799.html Shahbaz Bhatti receives International Religious Freedom Award]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. Pakistan Press International Article, 21 March 2004.
• [http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=report&id=139 PAKISTAN: Religious freedom in the shadow of extremism]. CSW religious freedom briefing, June 2011.

{{Canonization}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhatti, Shahbaz}}

Category:1968 births

Category:2011 deaths

Category:21st-century Roman Catholic martyrs

Category:Assassinated Pakistani politicians

Category:Deaths by firearm in Islamabad

Category:Federal ministers of Pakistan

Category:2011 murders in Pakistan

Category:Pakistan People's Party politicians

Category:Pakistani Servants of God

Category:People from Khushpur

Category:Persecution of Christians in Pakistan

Category:Victims of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan

Category:Asian politicians assassinated in the 2010s

Category:Assassinated government ministers in Asia

Category:Politicians assassinated in 2011