KARACHI, Nov 15: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain condemning the blast has blamed the religious extremists who he alleged were trying to sabotage relief operations and threaten integrity of Pakistan. In a message faxed from MQM’s international secretariat in London on Tuesday, Mr Hussain expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the early recovery of the injured.

He said that elements responsible for this terrorist act were not only the enemies of Karachi but also of Pakistan. He said that there was peace in the city and the people of Karachi were in the forefront in collecting and providing relief to the victims of earthquake. This terrorist act was carried out to sabotage this situation and the terrorist elements were linked with the religious extremists, who were patronized by a religious extremist organization, which was an open enemy of Karachi and Pakistan.

Mr Hussain appealed to the public at large to remain peaceful and demonstrate their unity by remaining calm.

Meanwhile, MQM convenor Dr Imran Farooq alleged that religious extremists and their organization were responsible for the bomb blasts in Karachi. He termed the bomb blast “naked act of terrorism”.

He said that only the previous day a leader of Jamaat-i-Islami issued a statement announcing that they did not need to do war in Kashmir and Karachi was enough for war. And the very next day, the blast occurred in Karachi killing three people and leaving many wounded.