By IANS,
United Nations : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the assassination of Pakistan’s only Christian minister, calling him a “prominent advocate” for minority rights.
A statement, released here Wednesday by Ban’s spokesperson Martin Nesirky, called Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti a “prominent advocate” for minority rights and a promoter of inter-faith understanding, Xinhua reported.
Bhatti was gunned down Wednesday outside his mother’s house in Islamabad. It was the second high-profile assassination in less than two months in Pakistan over a controversial blasphemy law. On Jan 4, Punjab governor Salman Taseer was killed by his own bodyguard.
“The secretary general encourages the government of Pakistan to continue its efforts to combat terrorism, protect the rights of minorities and promote tolerance,” the statement said.