Pakistani Christian and Muslim leaders condemn Rashid Rehman's assassination
Islamabad (AsiaNews) - Christian and Muslim activists, political leaders and representatives of civil society groups are mourning and praying today to honour the memory of Rashid Rehman, a lawyer who was killed by extremists Wednesday evening for his opposition to the country's blasphemy law.
Coordinator for the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Rehman was a leading activist in the fight for freedom in the Asian country. Targeted by Islamic extremists for a long time, he was killed in his office in Multan, a city in the province of Punjab. During the deadly attack, two other people who were also injured.
On several occasions, he had reported Islamist threats to police and the government but nothing was done to provide him enhanced security. Even so, his murder case file does not include any information about previous threats and attacks. Yet, it was public knowledge that extremist groups banned by the government were out to get him.
Activists and members of civil society groups have called for the arrest of the culprits. The Multan Bar Association has already announced its intention to boycott courtroom hearings in protest.
Rehman's murder is not the first involving a member of the legal profession in Pakistan, especially among those acting on behalf of the unjustly accused under the country's blasphemy laws. What is more, so far no one responsible in such cases has ever been arrested, let alone punished for his deeds.
In Lahore, the Catholic Church slammed the assassination, joining others in the day of mourning and prayer. "Sectarian violence has claimed another victim," said Fr Anwar John.
For the clergyman, who is an Oblates of Mary Immaculate missionary, Rehman Rashid was a courageous person who led from the front the battle "to defend the unjustly accused."
Worse still, such incidents "are bound to increase," as exemplified by the assassination of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, a Muslim, and Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic.
Maulana Tahir Ashrafi, a Muslim leader and chairman of the Ulema Council, also condemned the murder. In his view, Rehman's "only fault was that he was defending someone who was accused of blasphemy. It is for the court to decide if a person is guilty or not, no one else has the right to declare anyone a criminal."
"This is a barbaric incident," he added. For this reason, "I want to send a clear message to the people who think they are the defenders of the religion that they will not be able to strike fear in the heart of the brave who stand for the innocent."
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