The burial took place today of Pakistan's only Christian government minister after he was assassinated 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.
Mr 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.
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani was at a church service for Mr Bhatti in the capital Islamabad today, in contrast to Mr Taseer's funeral which he did not attend.
"I consider this day as a black day," Mr Gilani said in the church. "All the minorities have lost a great leader. I assure you, we will try our utmost to bring the culprits to justice."
President Asif Ali Zardari did not attend today's service.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik distanced himself from the slain politician, telling media Mr Bhatti was himself to blame for his death. "I think it was his mistake," Rehman Malik said, adding Mr Bhatti wanted to keep a low profile. "It was his own decision."
In a sign of mourning, black flags fluttered atop houses in Khushpur, Bhatti's mainly Christian home village, 290km south of Islamabad. Around 2,000 men, women and children thronged the village cemetery for burial.
"These terrorists must be hanged publicly to stop them from committing such brutal crimes," Hina Gill, a member of the Christian Minority Alliance said. "These terrorists are wearing the mask of religion to defame religion."
"Bhatti, your blood will bring revolution," some mourners shouted as his body was taken to the burial site in an ambulance.
After shooting Mr Bhatti, his attackers dropped leaflets saying they had acted in the name of the Punjabi Taliban and al Qaeda because of Bhatti's opposition to the blasphemy law.
Pakistan's blasphemy law sanctions the death penalty for insulting Islam or its Prophet Mohammad.
Mr Bhatti, a 42-year-old Catholic, had called for a reform of the law which rights groups say has been used to persecute Christians and other minorities, which make up around 2 per cent of Pakistan's 180 million population.
Some liberal members of the ruling Pakistan People's Party, led by Mr Zardari, also backed efforts to reform the blasphemy law, but the government has distanced itself from anyone calling for amendments for fear of a backlash from extremists, a move that has dismayed moderates and liberals.
Reuters