September 22, 2008	Monday	Ramazan 21, 1429

LAHORE, Sept 21: Large-scale loss of life and property in bombing of Marriot Hotel in Islamabad was widely condemned here on Sunday.

Speaking at a meeting here, Jamaat-i-Islami acting amir Syed Munawwar Hassan said the incident provided a serious cause for concern because it showed that even sensitive places in the red zone were not safe from terrorists. Adviser on interior Rehman Malik should accept responsibility for the security lapse and resign.

He said anti-Pakistan forces were trying to harm the country but the rulers did not seem to be aware of the danger and were trying to help the enemy achieve its designs due to contradiction in their words and behaviour. Pakistan should quit the US-led war against terror because the American forces were bombing its territory and killing innocent citizens on the pretext of the war.

Jamaat Ahle Hadith amir Sajid Mir said bombing of the hotel on the day of the address of the president to the joint session of the parliament appeared to be the result of a conspiracy in the backdrop of the US pressure as it would strengthen its claim for right to hot pursuit for its forces.

He said hard stance adopted by President Asif Ali Zardari on terrorism was unrealistic and similar to that of his predecessor Pervez Musharraf because extremism could not be countered by extremism.

He was of the view that the Islamabad incident could help US implement its plan to turn Pakistan into another Iraq or Afghanistan.

Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan, additional secretary general Javed Iqbal, provincial president Ahsan Rashid and district president Mian Mahmoodur Rashid said the tragic incident spoke volumes for the incompetence of the authorities responsible for maintenance of law and order and protection of life and property of the people.

They condoled the death of victims of the blast and prayed for early recovery of the injured. Condemning the bombing during a condolence meeting of the Pakistan Labour Federation held here with Attiya Saleem in the chair, secretary-general Haji Muhammad Saeed said the tragic incident had created a sense of insecurity among the people.

He said those killing innocent people in the name of religion had nothing to do with Islam because it was the religion of peace. God would not forgive those killing innocent citizens in Islamabad during Ramazan.