Several political and religious parties of Pakistan on Friday
condemned the killing of a senior religious leader in a suicide
attack, saying those elements behind the murder are bent on fanning
the fire of sectarianism.
Central leader of alliance of Islamic parties and prominent
Shiite leader Allama Hasan Turabi was killed in a suicide attack in
the port city of Karachi on Friday.
A suicide bomber blew himself up when Allama Hasan Turabi was
heading to his residence, Home Minister of Sindh Province Abdul
Rauf Siddiqui said.
Allama Hasan Turabi was considered as the high profile target of
the terrorists and escaped unhurt in another bomb attack in April
this year, according to local private Geo TV reports.
Hundreds of youth took to the streets in different parts of the
city and chanted slogans against the US and the government for its
failure to protect citizens, Geo TV reported.
They broke traffic signals and burnt tyres on roads and the
police diverted the traffic.
Secretary General of the alliance of Islamic groups, Mutahida
Majli-e-Amal (MMA) Maulana Fazal ur Rehman condemned the attack and
described Allama Turabi's death as a huge loss for Pakistan.
He asked for calm and patience and said that it is the handiwork
of those who want to destroy peace and create sectarian rift.
Chief of Islami Tehrik Allama Sajid Ali Naqvi and other Shiite
groups have announced three-day mourning in the country.
Naqvi said that terrorists have held the whole country hostage
and they are targeting religious leaders.
He described the incident as a move to harm unity of the people,
asking his supporters to remain calm and frustrate designs of those
who want to pitch Muslims against Muslims.
Chief of MMA Qazi Hussain Ahmed also condemned the murder and
termed it as a great loss for the alliance of Islamic groups.
Central leader of Mutahida Qaumi Movement Imran Farooq also
denounced the attack.
Chief Minister Sindh Province Arbab Ghulam Rahim said the
authorities had no warning of the attack and that there is no
solution to check suicide bombings.
Rahim said the security was tight and there was no security
lapse.
He said there is no link of the suicide attack with the seven
bomb blasts in train in the Indian city of Mumbai.
High alert was declared in Karachi and other parts of the
country after the blast. Home Minister of Sindh province Siddiqui
said that patrolling of paramilitary rangers and police have been
increased.
(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2006)
