March 25, 2003	Tuesday	Muharram 21, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, March 24: Former prime minister and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto has asked the government to ensure protection of the minorities.

In a statement issued by PPP media cell on Monday, she asked the government to ensure the safety of the members of minority communities in the wake of public agitation against the US war on Iraq.

She made the call to the government after some minority leaders expressed apprehensions that during the protest demonstrations some extremist elements may link the Pakistani Christians with the US and the West and thereby harm them in a bid to avenge US war on Iraq.

Christians and other minorities of Pakistan had condemned the war on Iraq. Pope John Paul-II also condemned the war terming it a humanitarian catastrophe.

However, some extremist elements had been calling it as a crusade and inciting people to join Jihad against America and infidels.

The former premier said that unfortunately in the past whenever there was an attack on any Muslim country religious minorities especially the Christians in Pakistan were targeted by the extremists.

She said that the law and order situation in the country was already bad and in such a situation the government had to take extra measures to ensure the safety and security of the minorities in the charged atmosphere.

She urged the people not to take the national Christian community as the US or nationals of any country other than Pakistan.

The Christians of Pakistan, indeed all minorities in the country, were patriotic citizens and nothing should be done which may aggravate their sense of insecurity, she said.