Pakistan's Minister for Minorities shot dead for opposing blasphemy law

Pakistan Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti today was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen in the capital, Islamabad.

According to reports, four gunmen opened fire on Bhatti at close range on Wednesday morning as he left his residence to attend a cabinet meeting.

Bullets hit Bhatti's car four or five times through the windshield. Blood covered the back seat, reported the Reuters.

Bhatti was rushed to a local hospital where doctors declared him dead upon arrival.

TV stations reported that the gunmen threw several pamphlets in Urdu at the site linking the attack on Bhatti to his opposition to the blasphemy law.

The pamphlet said any change in the blasphemy law would not be tolerated and those insulting Prophet Mohammed would be given death sentence.

Bhatti, a Christian, had been threatened by Islamist militants in the past for speaking out against Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law, which impose death for insulting Islam.

In January, the governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer, was gunned down by one of his bodyguards after he had strongly opposed the blasphemy law and sought presidential pardon for Asia Bibi, a Christian woman, who was sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari meanwhile today strongly condemned the murder of Bhatti and termed it a "heinous act".

The President in a message to the family conveyed his heartfelt condolences and said the extremist elements were trying in vain to destabilise the country, as reported by the Associated Press of Pakistan.

Earlier this month, Bhatti in an interview with The Christian Post disclosed that he had been getting death threats and if any changes were brought to the blasphemy law he would be beheaded.

However, he said he will continue to raise the voice of the voiceless and "I will not feel fear because I follow Jesus Christ who has given his own life for us."

"I made it clear that I will consider myself most fortunate if Jesus Christ will accept the sacrifice of my blood to raise the voice for the justice and rights of the persecuted and victimized Christians and other minorities in Pakistan," he said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has ordered an inquiry into the incident.