Bhatti spoke of threats in video: BBC

Police and members of the media stand near the bullet-riddled car of slain Shahbaz Bhatti outside the emergency ward of a hospital in Islamabad.—Reuters LONDON: The BBC says it has received a video recording of murdered minister Shabhaz Bhatti in which the politician said he had been threatened by religious extremists but was not afraid to die. In the message, Bhatti says he has received threats from the Taliban and al-Qaida, but will not stop ”speaking for the oppressed and marginalized persecuted Christians and other minorities.” He added that he was ready ”to die for a cause.” Bhatti, the only Christian in Pakistan’s Cabinet, was shot dead Wednesday in Islamabad. The BBC said Bhatti had made the recording about four months ago and left instructions it should be sent to broadcasters if he was killed. Last month, in an interview with the Christian Post, Bhatti said he had received threats. "I received a call from the Taliban commander and he said, ‘If you will bring any changes in the blasphemy law and speak on this issue, then you will be killed,’" Bhatti told the newspaper.