It is important that Pakistani politicians in favour of tolerance stand up for their principles and take on the increasing gun culture being used for political purposes by religious extremists, as shown by yesterday's assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, the minister for religious minorities.
Batti wanted to reform Pakistan's notorious blasphemy law which is vaguely worded and therefore open to abuse. There have been incidents of people using the law to either settle rivalries or persecute religious minorities.
But there is another minority in Pakistan that favours more forceful Islamic policies put forward by the Taliban, and an even smaller part of that minority who are willing to use violence to enforce their point of view.
These violent extremists have frightened the mainstream politicians and social leaders to such an extent that they have become unwilling to face down the radicals.
Reform of the blasphemy law has become a test case, after the death sentence against a 45-year-old Christian woman, Asia Bibi, for insulting Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). After this verdict, many wanted the law to be reviewed and this infuriated the extremists.
A few months ago, Salman Taseer, governor of Punjab, was killed by his bodyguard who said he was angry that the politician opposed the blasphemy law.
There is a real danger that the extremists might force the discussion to stop. Despite a statement yesterday from President Asif Zardari's office that Bhatti's murder was part of a "concerted campaign to slaughter every liberal, progressive and humanist voice in Pakistan", the government has yet to act.
Despite being largely secular, the ruling party leaders have not supported Taseer or Bhatti's calls to reform the blasphemy law. No one can condone blasphemy, but the law needs to be precise. And the debate on how to change cannot be carried out with bullets. That only plays into the hands of the extremists.
