Pakistan: 'Assassination of minority affairs minister organised by Ilyas Kashmiri'

Pakistan: 'Assassination of minority affairs minister organised by Ilyas Kashmiri'

According to the commission's report, the 313 Brigade commissioned a Taliban commander from Punjab province, Asmatullah Mawaia, to eliminate Shahbaz.

ISLAMABAD: The assassination of Pakistan's minority affairs minister Shahbaz Bhatti was organised by al-Qaida-linked militant commander Ilyas Kashmiri and the perpetrators of the crime are currently in Dubai, his brother Paul Bhatti has said.

"The investigations into the murder of my brother Shabhaz are finally on the right track: it is the work carried out by the Taliban and Islamic fanatics. Now we are waiting for the capture of the perpetrators of the crime, who are in Dubai," Paul said.


An inquiry commission set up by interior minister Rehman Malik had concluded following investigations that the murder was organized by al-Qaida's 313 Brigade, also known as the "ghost army" and led by militant commander Ilyas Kashmiri, he told Agenzia Fides, a Catholic news agency.

According to the commission's report, the 313 Brigade commissioned a Taliban commander from Punjab province, Asmatullah Mawaia, to eliminate Shahbaz.

The plan was then executed by elements of the Tehrik-e-Islami extremist group along with a faction of the Ghazi Force, Paul said.

The interior minister had "announced an international arrest warrant" for the perpetrators, said Paul, currently special advisor to the Prime Minister for religious minorities.

Shahbaz was gunned down near his residence in the heart of Islamabad on March 2 as he was driving to work.

He was the second senior leader of the ruling Pakistan People's Party to be assassinated for opposing the controversial blasphemy law.

The Times of India

Sunday, July 3, 2011