Bhatti chose to leave his escorts behind: Malik

Interior Minister says Bhatti's assassination was not a security lapse as he had chosen to leave his escorts behind.

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti was travelling without his security guards when he was shot on Wednesday, said Interior Minister Rehman Malik while speaking to the media about the slain minister’s security.

Malik said that Bhatti chose to leave his escorts behind. He said Bhatti had made a programme to enhance his own security and that it was his own decision not to take security escorts to his mother’s residence where he used to spend the night. Malik said Bhatti had started spending the nights at his mother’s home after receiving death threats, since that was a location no one knew of.

“Had this been a security lapse, I would have offered a resignation myself,” said Rehman Malik.

Malik said investigations into the incident were being carried out.

Malik also paid a surprise visit to parliament lodges in the wake of killing of the federal minister to review security arrangements there. Sources say the interior minister visited parliament lodges on the complaints of legislators residing there over poor security.

Speaking on the occassion, Malik said he was not satisfied with the security as a number of CCTV cameras were not functional.  He asked the DIG to set up a Rescue 15 mini cell in parliament Lodges.

Earlier, Malik ordered increased security for federal ministers with two additional police officers and two FC guards be added to the ministers' security detail.

The interior minister also ordered the Islamabad IG to submit an initial report on the assassination within 48 hours.

Shahbaz Bhatti was assassinated in the I-8/3 area of Islamabad on Wednesday morning by three unidentified gunmen. Bhatti had been receiving frequent death threats from militants for his statements on the blasphemy law.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has announced three days of mourning for Shahbaz Bhatti.

Shahbaz Sharif warns Malik of using the term 'Punjabi Taliban'

Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif warned Interior Minister Rehman Malik to not to divide the Taliban on a provincial basis.

Talking to the media outside the residence of slain minister Shahbaz Bhatti, Sharif said the term Punjabi Taliban has been coined by the interior minister.

He said Pakistan is fighting a war against terror which cannot be confined to provinces.

Sharif also expressed his grief over the assassination of the minister for minority affairs.

Bhatti's video prophesy

Shahbaz Bhatti left a video prophesy of his assassination. In a video said to have been recorded four months ago and newly posted online by the European group First Step Forum, which promotes interfaith dialogue, Bhatti had said he was being hunted by the Taliban or al Qaeda.

Extremists wanted to kill him because of his opposition to the blasphemy law, and because of his work for "the oppressed and marginalised", the politician said somberly into the camera.

"But I want to share that I believe in Jesus Christ who has given his own life for us," said Bhatti, who was 42.

"I'm ready to die for a cause. I'm living for my community and suffering people, and I will die to defend their rights."

Sharmila Farooqui condemns assassination

Secretary Information Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Sindh Women Wing Sharmila Faruqui has expressed her deep sorrow over the brutal murder of Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti and strongly condemned it. She said that Shahbaz Bhatti was a symbol of bravery and boldness in Pakistan Peoples’ Party for the rights of minorities and his assassination is the murder of enlightenment.

Sharmila said that extremists were the enemies of democracy and peace, but that the present democratic government was not afraid of them and the terrorists would be taught a lesson that they would never forget.