By John Ellis

http://www.businessinsider.com/murder-in-pakistan-a-chilling-message-2011-3

Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's federal minister for minorities, was assassinated today by Islamic extremists determined to bring down Pakistan's civilian government.

According to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Bhatti used his office "to obtain government assistance for victims of the worst instances of religiously-motivated mob violence, to advocate publicly for reform or repeal of the blasphemy laws, to gain increased public attention to the concerns of the religious minorities, to secure increased employment opportunities in public service for members of religious minority communities, and to promote religious tolerance."