Vatican City,: The Vatican today condemned as "unspeakable" the murder of a Catholic Pakistani government minister opposed to an Islamic blasphemy law, and called for an end to persecution of Christians.
The attack was a "new act of violence of a terrible gravity," said papal spokesman Federico Lombardi after minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti was shot dead in broad daylight in a residential area of Islamabad earlier today.
"To our prayers for the victim, our condemnation of the act of unspeakable violence, our closeness to the
Pakistani Christians subject to hate, we add an appeal concerning the dramatic urgency of the defense of religious freedom and of Christians who are suffering from violence and persecution," he added.
In comments to reporters, Lombardi also stressed the need to defend religious freedom and end persecution of Christians in Pakistan.
Bhatti, a member of Pakistan's tiny Christian community, had been a vocal opponent of the country's controversial blasphemy law despite receiving death threats following the murder of another politician opposed to the law.
The attack was a "new act of violence of a terrible gravity," said papal spokesman Federico Lombardi after minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti was shot dead in broad daylight in a residential area of Islamabad earlier today.
"To our prayers for the victim, our condemnation of the act of unspeakable violence, our closeness to the
Pakistani Christians subject to hate, we add an appeal concerning the dramatic urgency of the defense of religious freedom and of Christians who are suffering from violence and persecution," he added.
Bhatti, a member of Pakistan's tiny Christian community, had been a vocal opponent of the country's controversial blasphemy law despite receiving death threats following the murder of another politician opposed to the law.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
43-Hour Flightime, 32,000 km: 87-Year-Old Pope Francis' Epic Voyage Dostoevsky To Proust, Pope Francis Lists His Favourite Authors Pope Francis To Become 1st Catholic Church Head To Address G7 Leaders 3 Grams Of Explosives Per Pager: Israel's Complex Op To Hurt Hezbollah 9 Dead, 2,800 Hurt As Pagers Explode Across Lebanon, Hezbollah Blames Israel "Israel Will Certainly Receive Its Punishment": Hezbollah After Pager Attacks What Trump Said On Getting A Call From Kamala Harris After Assassination Bid Indian Couple's Rs 5.5 Lakh Per Night Stay In Kenya Stuns Internet Ministry Of Education Revises Qualifying Percentile For NEET MDS Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.