Pakistan: Another Christian politician slain

Hendry Masih

Pakistani Christian leader Hendry Masih, an MP of Balochistan, was killed on Saturday, 14 June, by his bodyguard in Quetta.
The incident has generated outrage and dismay among Christian community, religious minorities and the civic community.

Masih was known and appreciated as an activist for the rights of religious minorities. He was shot by his bodyguard for reasons which are still unclear, and taken to hospital in critical condition, where he died as a result of his injuries.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif has condemned the attack and offered his condolences to Masih’s family.

"The extremists continue to claim victims. Religious minorities in Paksitan are not safe and are not protected. There is an ongoing war against minorities by Islamic radicals", Sardar Mushtaq Gill, lawyer and defender of human rights told Fides news agency.

Representatives of NGOs and civil society have commented that even the governor of Punjab, the Muslim Salman Taseer was killed by his bodyguard because he had defended Asia Bibi, a Christian woman accused of blasphemy who is still languishing in prison.

Source: Fides