Pakistan minorities minister, Shahbaz Bhatti, assassinated

Islamabad: Pakistan's minister for minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian by faith, was killed in a gun attack in Islamabad on Wednesday, a hospital official said. Bhatti had been calling for changes in the country's controversial blasphemy law, which he said was used to persecute minority faiths.

Bhatti died after two gunmen opened fire on his car in the capital, Islamabad, hospital officials say. He was travelling to work when through the residential I-8/3 district when his vehicle was sprayed with bullets, police said.

Police sources say that though they had provided two sets of guards to Bhatti he had refused their services at his home and had given instructions that the cover would only begin when he reached office. He was waylaid just outside his house on his way to office.

Bhatti was a leader of the ruling Pakistan People's Party. The anti-blasphemy law has been in the public eye since November when a court sentenced a Christian mother of four to death.

An attempt to highlight the inequities in the blasphemy law also led to the assassination of Salman Taseer, the governor of the most populous Punjab province and death threats to other political leaders who have been asking for a review.

The blasphemy law holds a death sentence for anyone who insults Islam.