The right to live

Dawn.com Published March 2, 2011

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Hours after the assassination of Federal Minister of Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti, several local and national organisations held a protest in front of the Karachi Press Club (KPC) to condemn the murder.

Almost 100 people, including the famous writer H.M Naqvi and Human Rights Minister Nadia Gabol, gathered chanting, “This is terrorism, not Islam,” holding signs that stated, “Murderers are not Muslims,” “Punish Killer,” “Shame, Shame” with Citizens for Democracy (CFD), Human Rights Commission Pakistan (HRCP), Gawahi Mission Trust, Labour Party and Capuchin Friars Pakistan. - Text by Sadef Kully and photography by Nadir Siddiqui.

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Irfan Haqqee

Mar 03, 2011 02:30am

Pakistanis should take out the white strip from their flag. I am tired of hearing that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance. Prove it just don't say it!

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rahim chundriagr

Mar 03, 2011 03:11am

Really a balack day in the history of pakistan

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Haider Tanveer

Mar 03, 2011 09:05am

Time to standup with "OUR" Christian Countrymen. Pakistan is surely not complete without them be it our "Flag" or their contributions especially in the field of "Education" and "Health".

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Shahid Abro

Mar 03, 2011 04:01pm

This is not just the case with minorities. It isn't just the matter of Islamists or terrorists in our country. But the fact is that no body is safe. There is no rule of law in cities, no peace and justice in our villages. Police and the affluent brutalize poor people mostly in rural areas and in big cities it fails to protect innocent people being killed and robbed. Who is safe here? What minority or majority? Hindu Christains or Muslims? There never is simply the rule of law. Shame on those with uniforms of law and badges, and those who steer them.

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Johny Handle

Mar 03, 2011 05:20pm

I lived for some time in Pakistan in the late sixtiees and early seventees. It became a second home-country to me. But now i can only look with disgust at the situation today. I agree with Irfan Haqqee, Islam has become the synonim for the daily terror, killings and beheadings, and all in the name of Islam.

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azmat ali

Mar 03, 2011 05:32pm

it is black day of pakistan

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azmatalihilbi

Mar 03, 2011 05:37pm

v strongly condemn d act of extrimst killng of shabaz bati it is really black day of pakistan in d world ......

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avi

Mar 03, 2011 05:40pm

I donot much about islam but i am sure that it doesn't tells to kill the person who is following other religion.If it is in islam to kill somebody than it can't be a religion which is followed by masses.Talibani need to learn that they are not killing minorites but they are killing there own islam.shame on taliban

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JOHN MATHEW

Mar 03, 2011 06:12pm

Really, tragic, Shame on Humanity,... not for Pakistan but for the entire world.

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Shailendra

Mar 03, 2011 07:29pm

Instead of 'Almost 100 people' it should have been 'Only 100 people'. This itself shows that very few people care about the incidence.

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Adnan

Mar 03, 2011 08:31pm

I am a Pakistani though I feel the same as you mentioned here. Killing might be allowed during the war but in normal life, in a normal country there is no space for this act no matter what !!!

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JISH

Mar 03, 2011 09:12pm

Exactly! compare this 100 with the 40000 who came out supporting the killer of the governor.. it seems like Pak middle class is increasingly intolerant..

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M Khan

Mar 03, 2011 10:13pm

Shame on the people who do not condone this behaviour, tomorrow it will be the common pakistani who will be targeted by the extremist. Wake up to the world, only a good human can be a good muslim. Napak-istan murdabad!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pakistan Zindabad!!!!!!!!!!

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Barkat Ali

Mar 03, 2011 10:26pm

Why we are shy to say that Pakistan is TALIBAN DOMINATED SOCIETY where NON MUSLIMS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LIVE............. EVERY WHERE INTOLERANCE PREVAILS..............

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G.A.

Mar 04, 2011 12:16am

So far I have come across 3 well educated, well off and well travelled (two living in the West) individuals who supported Qadri for murdering Taseer. It sent shivers up my spine. These people wouldn't even harm a fly. Have they gone mad? Truly scared for Pakistan now.

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Usman Ghani

Mar 05, 2011 06:44am

Another BLACK DAY in the history of Pakistan. Hope those butchers would be caught and hanged according to the law. Qadri THE KILLER, and all persons like him are a stigma and black spot for our society.

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Mar 05, 2011 07:58am

As a Pakistani living in the West I hang my head in shame at the brutal killing of Shahbaz Bhatti, Salman Taseer and scores of innocent lives that are being targeted in the name of religion. As a minority in the Western world we are fighting every day to uphold religious freedom.How do we do that when minorities live in fear of their lives every moment of the day. The ineffective, corrupt and self-serving government should be held accountable - if they truly care for Pakistan and its future they should step down NOW!

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Kev

Mar 05, 2011 10:45pm

I am a Christian(Catholic) born & bread up in Karachi. Although I went to a Catholic school most of my friends were Muslim and we got along just fine. They were all well educated. Religion was never a topic, it was always personal. I recenty visited Karachi and found out most of them to have totally changed.... fanatic is putting it mildly, they supported what Qadri did and the Blasphamy law... I was totally shocked.... I was always proud to be a Pakistani, sadly I do not feel the same anymore and given the choice would never want to live in a country filled with fanatics and where me & my family are never going to be safe, let alone being a minority.

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pierluigi

Mar 06, 2011 12:53am

Rome now the capital of Christianity, 2000 years ago? The road to justice is hard.

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haseen

Mar 07, 2011 07:13am

i was shocked ,it was a pain full day . we want peace in pakistan .soory to say but our country is not safe place for libral forces .

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