ISLAMABAD, May 30: Interior Minister Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat on Sunday said that the federal government will provide every kind of assistance to the Sindh government for the early arrest of killers of religious scholar Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai.

In a statement, the minister said: "The Sindh police will be provided every kind of assistance if required from federal departments or any provincial government." He said the federal law enforcement agencies and Rangers had been directed to extend full cooperation to the Sindh administration.

The Sindh government had also issued instructions for utilizing all means for the arrest of the culprits involved in the killing of the religious scholar, and for exposing the network behind them, he said.

He condemned the killing of Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai and described the incident as tragic and sorrowful. Mr Hayat said those who wanted to promote terrorism and create disturbance in the country were behind the incident.

He paid tribute to the services of Mufti Shamzai. "Thousands of Mufti Nizamuddin's followers are shocked but they should show patience on this occasion," he said.