It is with great sadness that we hear the killing of Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti, the minister for religious minorities in Pakistan. Bhatti, 42-was a Roman Catholic. A leaflet left at the assassination site threatened further violence and said that an "infidel Christian" shouldn't have been allowed to head a committee looking at amending of laws.
Both Catholic and Protestant bishops plan to meet today at 5 pm at the residence of Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore.
We call on all SIGNIS Asia members, their partners and friends to condemn the killing and use this time for prayer, reconciliation and mutual respect for all religions.
Please include a special prayer for Mr. Bhatti family, minority groups, the meetings by Catholic and Christian groups and especially for the Pakistan Government to work towards greater peace in the region.
See: Christian groups in Pakistan organized street protests and meetings after the assassination of Catholic federal minister for minorities affairs Shahbaz Bhatti yesterday in Islamabad.