Shahbaz Bhatti Shaheed died whilst defending the rights of minorities in Pakistan. His work with leading political and religious groups will not however be forgotten. In a report on the Foreign Office website our Foreign Office Minister has spoken out about the worldwide Christian persecution we are seeing in recent times. The article is produced in verbatim:
Britain raises concerns about religious freedom wherever they arise, including in Pakistan, through the intervention of Ministers or our Embassies and High
Commenting on the report by Aid to the Church in Need on Christian persecution, launched by Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Foreign Office Minister, Alistair Burt, said:
“We share the Cardinal’s concern about the plight of Christians facing persecution. Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right and we condemn and deplore religious persecution in any form.
“The effective promotion of human rights, including freedom of religion, is at the heart of our foreign policy. The Foreign Secretary has set up a new Advisory Group on Human Rights which identified religious freedom as a key human rights issue at its very first meeting in December.
“Britain raises concerns about religious freedom wherever they arise, including in Pakistan, through the intervention of Ministers or our Embassies and High Commissions. We lobby governments about individual cases where persecution or discrimination occurs, and call for changes in discriminatory practices and laws in countries where freedom of religion is curtailed.
“British aid helps the world's poorest people, who would lose out twice over were we to withdraw it. The Development Secretary has made clear the pivotal role of the Christian church in tackling world poverty and last month launched a renewed drive to work more closely with faith communities.
“It is vital that Pakistan guarantees the rights of all its citizens, regardless of their faith or ethnicity. We will continue to press for religious freedoms to be upheld in Pakistan and around the world.”
The BPCA is encouraged by the comments from our Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt. The formation of a working Group is a major step forward and has given credence to the campaigning of lobby groups, that have worked extremely hard to highlight the plight of Pakistani Christians and other persecuted communities.
Britain raises concerns about religious freedom wherever they arise, including in Pakistan, through the intervention of Ministers or our Embassies and High
Commenting on the report by Aid to the Church in Need on Christian persecution, launched by Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Foreign Office Minister, Alistair Burt, said:
“We share the Cardinal’s concern about the plight of Christians facing persecution. Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right and we condemn and deplore religious persecution in any form.
“The effective promotion of human rights, including freedom of religion, is at the heart of our foreign policy. The Foreign Secretary has set up a new Advisory Group on Human Rights which identified religious freedom as a key human rights issue at its very first meeting in December.
“Britain raises concerns about religious freedom wherever they arise, including in Pakistan, through the intervention of Ministers or our Embassies and High Commissions. We lobby governments about individual cases where persecution or discrimination occurs, and call for changes in discriminatory practices and laws in countries where freedom of religion is curtailed.
“British aid helps the world's poorest people, who would lose out twice over were we to withdraw it. The Development Secretary has made clear the pivotal role of the Christian church in tackling world poverty and last month launched a renewed drive to work more closely with faith communities.
“It is vital that Pakistan guarantees the rights of all its citizens, regardless of their faith or ethnicity. We will continue to press for religious freedoms to be upheld in Pakistan and around the world.”
The BPCA is encouraged by the comments from our Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt. The formation of a working Group is a major step forward and has given credence to the campaigning of lobby groups, that have worked extremely hard to highlight the plight of Pakistani Christians and other persecuted communities.
Pakistan has come into the spotlight due to a number of high profile assassinations and now our people can celebrate the lives of those martyrs, knowing that their sacrifice will not go unnoticed.
We hope that the focus of the group will have a cross-departmental approach and in particular that they will stimulate changes within the UK Border Agency, so that they now recognise those fleeing religious persecution as a real and present danger.
A Sunrise Radio news reporter interviewed Wilson on this subject and will be featuring the news every hour from 12:00.
Dear Readers:
ReplyDeleteIf the PPP forced Sherry Rehman to withdraw her private members Bill which asked the government for amendment of the 'Blasphemy Law' - then who killed Shahbaz Bhatti. If PPP killed Sherry Rehman's private members bill then who killed Shahbaz Bhatti. He was a naive young fellow who became bigger for his shoes and became a liability for PPP. PPP then wanted to get rid of that liability - and by killing Shahbaz Bhatti they did pay off that liability. Who then killed Shahbaz Bhatti and Salman Taseer. Of course, PPP. I wouldn't call him a Martyr. He however discharged PPP liability by offering his life. RIP, Shahbaz. Loyalty to the Lord has nothing to do with him being gunned down - he was killed because he was exposing voilations aganist human rights in Pakistan for which the PPP government is responsible while part of the government himself.
Raymond Durrani & Associates
Central Committee Executive
Pakistan Christian Congress (Only Christian Political Party Registered in Pakistan)
'Friends of Pakistan's Christian Nation' (While we care deeply about all minorities, our focus is Christian Nation which was partner in the formation of Pakistan)
1 (905) 683-2341