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ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet expressed concern on Wednesday over what ministers termed a ‘security and intelligence breakdown’ in the capital that had resulted in the ‘targeted and cold-blooded’ killing of Minorities’ Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti.

Ministers raised questions about the performance of the federal security agencies under Interior Minister Rehman Malik and stressed the need for some heads to roll after an in-depth inquiry into the incident ^[1], sources said after a five-hour, in-camera session presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

The ministers blamed the Islamabad police and the intelligence apparatus for the second high-profile murder, after that of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer ^[2], and an attack on former religious affairs minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi ^[3].

The prime minister promised to consider the request of all ministers for bullet-proof cars and deployment of FC personnel for their security as well as for some ‘soft’ targets in parliament, including Sherry Rehman and Fauzia Wahab.

According to official sources, the cabinet was scheduled to meet at 11am, but on receiving the report of the attack on Mr Bhatti the prime minister rushed to the Shifa Hospital to have a last glimpse of the minister.

The cabinet members and the officials concerned again gathered in the afternoon.

On the request of Law Minister Babar Awan, the officials were asked to leave the conference room during a detailed discussion on the incident.

“The cabinet condemned the assassination of the federal minister for minorities and expressed its determination not to allow a ‘minority group of extremists’ to overwhelm the majority of sane and moderate citizens of the country,” Information Minister Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan said while briefing journalists.

The law minister hinted at a decision not to spare any administration or intelligence official found guilty of negligence because the killers appeared to have known about Mr Bhatti’s shifting to a safe place in the Ministers’ Enclave.

He said the killing of Mr Bhatti had resulted in the departure of another global face from the country after Benazir Bhutto ^[4].

The information minister admitted a security-cum-intelligence lapse led to the murder, but added that no level of security could stop extremism.

She said that as the extremists had changed their strategy from suicide attacks to target killings, “we also need to renew our strategy to combat the new trend”.

“The cabinet discussed all aspects of the incident and the prime minister sought the views of every member on how a minister had been targeted so easily,” she said.

The minister, however, was unaware of reports that the slain minister had predicted his own death and a video recording of his statement had been received by a British television network.

She said the cabinet had also noted a lack of action on a number of tip-offs.

Dr Firdaus Awan said the cabinet was of the view that the extremists had silenced a voice for minority rights ^[5] that was projecting a soft image of the country in the world.

He needed more security and the government would investigate if there had been negligence or deliberate laxity, she added.

The cabinet observed a two-minute silence for Mr Bhatti.

Zulqernain Tahir adds from Lahore: Interior Minister Malik defended his position when Babar Awan said ‘someone’ would have to take the responsibility for the murder.

A PPP source said Mr Malik gave an ‘angry gesture’ when Mr Awan said, while addressing the prime minister, that “we should not only condemn the murder but also fix the responsibility. Someone should take responsibility.”

The law minister said Mr Bhatti was on the hit-list of extremists after the assassination of Mr Taseer, but “we did not pay proper attention to his security”.

“Who is responsible for his death?” he was quoted as having asked.

Another minister supported his stance, wondering why Mr Bhatti had not been given a bullet-proof car even though a number of PPP MNAs had been given one.

“It appears that we did not learn anything from the assassination of Mr Taseer. How will the party justify the ‘poor’ security arrangements for Mr Bhatti.”

Defending himself, the interior minister claimed that “extra security” had been provided to Mr Bhatti.

However, he said, it would have to be investigated why the security squad was not with him at the time of the incident.

“We will fix the responsibility after investigation,” Mr Malik said.