PESHAWAR: Political parties condemn attack on PPP motorcade
Dawn Report
PESHAWAR, Oct 19: Political parties on Friday strongly condemned bomb attacks on the Pakistan People’s Party rally in Karachi and blamed intelligence agencies for the bloody incident.
Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan termed the attack a worst example of barbarism in the country’s history and expressed sympathies with victims’ families.
In a statement issued here, Mr Wali said his party supported the three-day mourning announced by the PPP.
He said the incident was a result of the failed policies of the government and intelligence agencies.
He said that extremist and militant organisations were creating anarchy in the country.
Condemning the blasts, provincial chief of the Jamaat-i-Islami Sirajul Haq said these were aimed at postponing the coming general elections. He said that innocent people were killed in the explosions.
He said that elements following the US agenda would be defeated in the elections.
The Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (NWFP chapter) said on the one hand the PPP rally had been targeted in Karachi and on the other hand the army was conducting operations in the tribal areas.
In a statement, the party said the government had failed to address vital national issues, including law and order and poverty.
The NWFP Governor Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai condemned the bomb blasts and expressed his sorrow over the loss of life of innocent people, said a handout.
The governor said that such subversive activities were meant to disturb the peaceful atmosphere and sabotage the democratic process in the country.
He said that elements involved in such heinous crimes were bringing bad name to the country, adding that they did not have any concern with the humanity.
Abdul Sami Paracha adds from Kohat: Former law minister Syed Iftikhar Hussain Gilani held the Musharraf regime responsible for political terrorism by blocking way for the establishment of a genuine democracy in the country.
He said that terrorists had been taking advantage of the so-called war on terror which was aimed at keeping political parties away from participating in the democratic process.
Mr Gilani said the attack on the PPP rally clearly showed that some forces wanted the military rule to continue. He demanded a judicial probe into the Karachi carnage.
Our Swabi correspondent adds: Maulana Fazal Ali, the former NWFP education minister, said that it was a great shock to know that Benazir Bhutto’s rally was rocked by the two powerful blasts which killed at least 135 people and injured over 500.
Former Swabi district nazim Jehan Zeb Khan said it was the responsibility of the government to provide security to the people, adding that such attacks on political parties’ rallies could hamper the next elections.
Local leaders of the PPP held a protest meeting in Swabi and alleged that the blasts had been carried by those elements who were afraid of Ms Bhutto’s arrival in the country.
The meeting decided to observe a three-day morning and hold protest rally.
PPP district president Haji Manfat Khan alleged that the government had failed to provide security to the participants of the rally who came from across the country to welcome their beloved leader. He said the blasts exposed the government’s claim of providing a fool-proof security to the PPP chairperson.
Syed Zahid Jan adds from Upper Dir: People of the district condemned the suicide attacks on the PPP procession in Karachi and expressed their sorrow over the loss of life in the incident.
Lawyers boycotted court proceedings and announced a three-day mourning. People Lawyers’ Forum held a meeting to condemn the blasts.
PLF president Advocate Syed Jehangir Shah, Mohammad Rashid Advocate, Javed Akhtar Advocate, Mohammad Ismail Advocate, Liaqat Advocate, Abdul Hassan Advocate, Ikram Hussain Advocate, Akbar Khan Advocate and others attended the meeting.
It condemned the attempt on the life of Ms Bhutto and killing of innocent people.
The participants said the present government had failed to protect the life and property of the people and the country had fallen into the hands of terrorists.
