Christian Pakistani minister shot dead in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - A group of gunmen shot dead on Wednesday Pakistan's minister for minorities, a Christian, making him the second senior official to be killed this year for challenging a blasphemy law under which anyone who speaks ill of Islam faces the death penalty. Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti was shot while traveling in a car near an Islamabad market, police said. He was the only Christian in the cabinet.

"The initial reports are that there were three men who attacked him. He was probably shot using a Kalashnikov, but we are trying to ascertain what exactly happened," said Islamabad police chief Wajid Durrani. Bullets hit Bhatti's car four or five times through the windshield. Blood covered the back seat.

A hospital spokesman said Bhatti suffered several wounds.