US Commission on International Religious Freedom confers award on Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s Minster for Minorities

Shahbaz Bhatti received an award from US Commission on

international religious freedom but this big news is missing

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Minister ready to die for religious freedom

Saturday, 19 Sep, 2009

Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti was awarded a first-of-a-kind medallion by the Commission on International Religious Freedom in Washington for championing the rights of Pakistani minorities. — Photo by AFP

PAKISTAN

‘Minorities’ protection bill to be tabled in NA’

WASHINGTON: The Minister for Minorities Affairs promised on Thursday to work to amend blasphemy laws and said he was ready to die fighting.

Shahbaz Bhatti visited Washington at the invitation of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, which awarded him a first-of-a-kind medallion for championing the rights of minorities in Pakistan.

‘The stand of the Pakistani government is to review, revisit and amend blasphemy laws so it will not remain a tool in the hands of extremists,’ Mr Bhatti told commissioners from the bipartisan US government agency.

‘They are using this law to victimise minorities as well as Muslims of Pakistan. This law is creating disharmony and intolerance in our society.’

Mr Bhatti said he had received threats for his work.

‘I personally stand for religious freedom, even if I will pay the price of my life,’ he said. ‘I live for this principle and I want to die for this principle.’ — AFP

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