MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Pakistan - Murder of Shabbaz Bhatti, Minister for Minorities

8.3.2011

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Jean Lambert, Nicole Kiil-Nielsen, Raül Romeva i Rueda, Heidi Hautala on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0166/2011

B7‑0166/2011

European Parliament resolution on Pakistan - Murder of Shabbaz Bhatti, Minister for Minorities

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions and notably the one of 20 January 2011,

 

- having regard to Article 18 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR),

 

- having regard to the 1981 UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion and Belief,

 

- having regard to Article 19 of the Pakistani Constitution on the freedom of speech,

 

- having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

 

A. Whereas Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's Minister of Minorities Affairs was assassinated by two gunmen on his way to work on 2 March,

 

B. Whereas a group calling itself the Tehreek-e-Taliban Punjab (Taliban Movement Punjab) claimed responsibility for the killing and said that he had been killed for his stance on the blasphemy law,

 

C. Whereas despite multiple death threads Mr. Bhatti was one the very few leading politicians who had the courage to continue addressing the aberrations of the blasphemy law which lends itself to abuse and vendetta acts and defended the urgently required review,

D. Whereas this tragedy comes only two months after the assassination on 4^th January 2011 of Punjab Governor, Salmaan Taseer who, like Minister Bhatti, was an outspoken opponent of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws,

 

E.Whereas on 1 March a third prominent Pakistani human rights defender, Naeem Sabir Jamaldini, the Coordinator of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan was equally assassinated who was particularly active in combating the human rights violations in the Baluchistan region;

 

1. Is deeply shocked by the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti and Naeem Sabir Jamaldini and offers sincere condolences to their family, friends and supporters;

 

2. Calls for the Government of Pakistan to act rapidly and transparently to investigate the murders and to bring the perpetrators to justice, as well as ensuring the swift and fair prosecution of Salmaan Taseer’s self-professed killer;