Pakistan

Our abject surrender to the extremists

The Committee of Progressive Pakistani-Canadians (CPPC) strongly condemns the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti.

March 08, 2011

VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA: The Committee of Progressive Pakistani-Canadians (CPPC) strongly condemns the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti and deplores the failure of various governments of Pakistan, including the present one, to bring an end to the abuses of the blasphemy law formulated during Zia’s reign.

We feel that, instead of taking strong measures against such killings, the authorities have capitulated to those who openly incite murder and violence against political dissent. The prime minister’s repeated assurances that his government has no intention of repealing the blasphemy law is an example of this abject surrender to the extremist forces.

Equality of all citizens, regardless of their beliefs, is a core value of any democratic society. The CPPC supports this principle — and a secular society — here in Canada as well as in Pakistan. We join all those who have condemned the killings of Shahbaz Bhatti and Salmaan Taseer and encourage them to openly and publicly register their disapproval of these dastardly acts.

Committee of Progressive Pakistani-Canadians

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (1)

R S JOHAR | 13 years ago | Reply What a write-up by Pakistani-Canadian progressive committee, simply brilliant stuff. Such committies need to be formed in Pakistan with active participation of the majority, if this country is to be saved.

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