Sunday, March 4, 2012

Shahbaz Bhatti

From The British Pakistani Christian Association:


Posted: 04 Mar 2012 07:22 AM PST

A message from Michelle Chaudhry daughter of Wing Commander Cecil Chaudhry:

I’m lost for words as I struggle amidst pain and tears to try to pay tribute to Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti one of the greatest leaders of our times. I feel my words or for that matter no amount of words spoken today could do justice to the person that was Shahbaz Bhatti. 

As the world pays tribute today to a dedicated, selfless, brave, courageous and humble world renowned minority rights activist, I pay tribute to my best friend. I knew Shahbaz Bhatti for twenty seven years and am one of the privileged few who knew the man behind the Activist. 
Today one year later the intensity of the pain is still the same, with hearts filled with unbearable sorrow we struggle to not only carry on life without Shahbaz but to keep alive what he died for.

Today Senate elections are taking place in Pakistan; the number of representatives in the Pakistani Senate will go from a 100 to a 104, for the first time in the history of Pakistan four representatives of the religious minorities will be elected into the Upper House of Parliament. Indeed a landmark achievement! All credit of which goes to Martyr Shahbaz Bhatti. It is due to his tireless efforts that history is being created in Islamabad today - on the first anniversary of his Martyrdom. History is being written with his blood. Shahbaz Bhatti is surely looking down with pride on the fruits of his long struggle.

All I can say is twenty seven bullets could not silence you Shahbaz; each one of us is fueled with your blood and refuse to be silenced, even if it costs us our own blood. We will do everything in our power to realize what you envisioned for the religious minorities of Pakistan and yes, one day this Pakistan will be the Jinnah’s Pakistan that you laid down your life for. 
Shahbaz I hope that where ever you are today, you can feel the overwhelming affection being expressed for you by the millions you have inspired across the world! 

You are indeed deeply missed.

Rest in peace Shahbaz – you continue to live in every beat of our hearts……..


Michelle Chaudhry

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