Political leadership condemns attacks in Lahore, Karachi

LAHORE: Politicians belonging to different parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), strongly condemned the suicide attacks in Lahore and Karachi on Tuesday and termed them conspiracy against the country’s sovereignty.They said that terrorists were bent upon starting a sectarian clash among the people but they would never succeed in their designs.Talking to  media, PPP Punjab and Lahore leaders, including Samiullah Khan, Samina Khalid Ghurki, Dr Fakhruddin Chaudhry, Hafiz Akhlaq, Aurangzeb Burki, Hafeez Malik, Faiza Malik, Sajida Mir and Uzma Bukhari, while slamming both the terror assaults, said that no one would be allowed to drive a wedge between different sects. “Terrorists want to derail the democratic set up in the country,” they said, adding that those involved in suicide attacks were working against national interests. They also said that anti-state elements could not pressurise the PPP-led government to stop its fight against terrorism.Leaders of the PML-N, including Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal, Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Senator Pervez Rasheed and MPA Arfa Khalid Pervez, condemned the attack on a procession in Lohari Gate, Lahore.They said that no Muslim would endorse or justify suicide bombings, adding that perpetrators of such attacks were not following the teachings of Islam. “Terrorists have no link with Islam. In fact, they have been working for some specific forces having vested interests,” they asserted. The PML-N leaders offered their condolences to the bereaved families.PML-Q Punjab leaders, including opposition leader in provincial assembly Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, Mohsin Leghari, Seemal Kamran, Dr Samia Amjad and Samina Khawar Hayat, said that the country was being governed without a law, which is evident from the rising unrest and criminal activities in all the provinces. They said the attack in Lahore was a failure of the Punjab government. They also said that the provincial government did nothing, but just made claims of providing foolproof security to religious processions. The PML-Q leaders expressed their sorrow over the loss of precious lives and termed the attacks a conspiracy against Islam.PTI Chairman Imran Khan, while condemning the blast, said his party was aggrieved at the loss of precious lives. He expressed his condolences with the bereaved families.MQM leader Dr Muhammad Ali said that both the attacks were deplorable – Dailytimes