Taliban militants today shot dead Pakistan's only Christian government minister for challenging a law that mandates the death penalty for insulting Islam.
Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti is the second senior official this year to be assassinated for opposing the blasphemy law. Provincial governor Salman Taseer was shot dead by his own bodyguard in January.
These killings, along with frequent militant attacks and chronic economic problems have raised fears for the future nuclear-armed Pakistan, where an unpopular coalition government is struggling to cope. Many fear radical Islam is becoming more mainstream there.
Mr Bhatti was shot by men in shawls in daylight while he was travelling in a car near a market in the capital, Islamabad, police said. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the killing, saying the minister had been "punished" for being a blasphemer.
The windscreen of Mr Bhatti's car had four or five bullet holes and blood covered the back seat. His driver, Gul Sher, said at least one gunman had taken part in the attack. A hospital spokesman said Mr Bhatti, who had spoken out against the anti-blasphemy law, suffered several wounds.
"A white car stopped near us at a crossing," his driver, who was slightly injured, told reporters. "Four people were sitting in the car. One of them got out with a Kalashnikov. . . . He came in front of the car and opened fire. I ducked. Minister died on the spot."
Witnesses said the attackers scattered leaflets signed by " The Qaeda and the Taliban of Punjab" at the attack scene, which read: "This is the punishment of this cursed man."
The blasphemy law has been in the spotlight since last November, when a court sentenced a Christian mother of four to death after her neighbours complained she had insulted Prophet Muhammad.
On January 4th, the governor of the most populous province of Punjab, Salman Taseer, who had strongly opposed the law and sought a presidential pardon for the 45-year-old Christian farmhand, was killed by one of his bodyguards who had been angered by the governor's stand.
Mr Taseer's killer was lionised by many in Pakistan, raising fears that mainstream society's tolerance for secularists and moderates was being eroded by a more hardline version of Islam.
The government of President Asif Ali Zardari has repeatedly said it would not change the blasphemy law, and officials have distanced themselves from anyone calling for amendments.
Al-Qaeda-linked Pakistani Taliban militants, fighting to bring down the state, had called for Mr Bhatti's death because of his attempts to amend the law.
"He was a blasphemer like Salman Taseer," a spokesman said by telephone from an undisclosed location.
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani condemned the killing and ordered the Ministry of Interior to investigate.
Mr Bhatti was travelling without security, having left two police escorts at home, Islamabad police chief Wajid Durrani said.
Reuters