State Minister for Minorities Affairs demands Bhatti probe

Parliamentary representatives for minorities to forward proposal for formation of commission to PM Gilani.

ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Minorities Affairs Akram Masih Gill demanded the formation of a judicial commission to probe Shahbaz Bhatti’s murder case, on Monday.

“I have forwarded a proposal on behalf of members’ parliaments representing minorities to Prime Minister for formation of a judicial commission to probe Shahbaz Bhatti’s case,” Gill told The Express Tribune.

Recommendations of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Minorities had also been clubbed with the proposal seeking formation of a judicial commission. Gill said that the police had failed to get solid clues despite a lapse of four months, he added.

The police have already interrogated around 519 suspects across almost six surrounding districts of Islamabad but could not find any clues. Earlier, SSP Tahir Alam had informed the parliamentarians that the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) had interrogated 168 suspected in Rawalpindi, 11 in Islamabad, 14 in Jhelum, 187 from Chakwal and 121 from Attock, but unfortunately could not find any leads to trace the real culprits.

“We are close to winding up the file of this crucial murder as there are no further developments in the case,” he said.

"However, geo-fencing of the area is being carried out but we are not optimistic about it because 15,000 cell phones’ numbers have been detected but resulted in no new findings while the CCTV footage analysis of the Qureshi Recruiting Agency located in House No 766, Sector I-8/3 Islamabad didn’t provide any clues either," he added.

During the investigation, Hafiz Nazar alias John Alexander, Shahbaz Bhatti’s driver and Mumtaz Qadri were interrogated, he added, but to no avail. The JIT had apprehended and interrogated Tehrik-e-Islami activists too but that didn’t bear any results either.

Recommendations for Ministry of Non-Muslim Affairs

The NA Standing Committee has suggested the formation of a Ministry of Non-Muslim Affairs rather than devolution of the minorities’ affairs ministry to the provinces.

“If the Religious Affairs Ministry can work under the Centre, why can’t the minorities’ affairs ministry run here? If there is any legal complication in forming a Non-Muslim Affairs’ Ministry than the government should address the problems of minorities at Center level,” suggested MNA Dr Nelson Azeem.

During the course of the proceedings, Chairman NA Committee Mahesh Kumar Malani also endorsed the idea. He said their recommendations will be sent to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.

“The matter of formation of a Non-Muslim Affairs Ministry replacing Minorities Affairs Ministry will also be taken up with him,” he added.

The demand for a judicial commission to probe the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti comes at a time when Islamabad Police has decided to close the case for want of evidence.