Pakistan buries Christian minister killed for blasphemy

SHOUTING “death for killers,” thousands of Pakistanis buried the country’s only Christian government minister who was killed for challenging a law that stipulates death for insulting Islam.

On Wednesday, the Taliban killed Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti for blasphemy, the latest sign violent religious conservatism is becoming more mainstream in Pakistan, a trend which could further destabilise the country.

Bhatti was the second senior official to be assassinated this year for opposing the blasphemy law. Provincial governor Salman Taseer was shot dead in January by one of his bodyguards.