The death of Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's Minister for Minorities, has been another great tragedy for the nation.

This unassuming and brave politician had vowed to fight the unjust blasphemy laws in Pakistan that are used to persecute and eliminate minorities.

Having witnessed the brutal killing of Salman Taseer, the Governor of Punjab, a few months earlier for trying to do the same, Shahbaz Bhatti knew that he was the next target of the religious extremists.

“These Taliban threaten me,” he said in a videotaped message recorded four months ago, and released after his death. “But I am a follower of the cross. I am living for the suffering of my people, and I am ready to die for them.”

As the terrorists fled, they left scattered pamphlets spelling out their motive. Bhatti was an “infidel Christian” who deserved death for challenging Pakistan's draconian blasphemy laws.

Extremist ideology, a relatively modern import to Pakistan, has now affected many aspects of Pakistani society and culture and continues to spread through schools, mosques, universities and television channels.

The brutal killing of Shahbaz Bhatti and Salman Taseer, as well as the highly-organised attacks on the two Ahmadiyya Muslim Community mosques in Lahore last year which killed about 90 innocent worshippers, show the inability of the Government of Pakistan to control extremists.

This is a worrying trend and Pakistanis throughout the world need to wake up and take stock of the situation before the nation disintegrates.

Denial is not an option.

In Pakistan, the voices calling for reason and tolerance are in danger of being wiped out. The fear is palpable.

The current series of high-profile murders fuelled by jihadist fervour, abetted by some irresponsible sections of the media and sanctified by some political actors, is going to do immense damage to Pakistan.

How often have we heard “all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing”.

As a British Muslim I believe our loyalty and life priorities lie in Britain. However, I have long believed that we have a responsibility for ensuring that we play a constructive role in the development of countries of our origin, such as Pakistan.

We need to take a strong moral leadership based on justice, equality, freedom and peace to influence policy makers, whether they are in Pakistan or in our Foreign Office in Britain.

I believe that we should be at the forefront of campaigns against jihadist violence, against killings, shootings and bombings in the name of Allah and the religion of Islam.

The world should not allow Pakistan to be a failed state although some would say it is already too late.