Shahbaz Bhatti murder: One-minute silence in Senate

Senator Hafiz Rasheed Ahmed from Fata terms one-minutes silence fort Shahbaz Bhatti “un-Islamic”.

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate seemed less than enthusiastic when a Hindu senator asked the house to observe one minute of silence to mourn the death of Shahbaz Bhatti.

Dr Khatumal Jeevan suggested that the senators, meeting for the first time since the minorities affairs minister was assassinated, observe one minute of silence as a mark of respect.

Senator Hafiz Rasheed Ahmed from Fata immediately responded that this would be “un-Islamic” as Sharia did not allow such things.

The puzzled Senate chairman turned to Leader of the House Nayyer Hussain Bokhari and sought his consent to Dr Jeevan’s demand. After Maulana Gul Naseeb led prayers for the late senator, the Senate chairman announced they would observe one minute of silence.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2011.