ISLAMABAD, Nov 21: President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali on Friday expressed deep sense of shock and grief over the loss of lives in terrorist attacks in Istanbul.

In their separate condolence messages to the president and the prime minister of the Republic of Turkey, the president and the prime minister strongly condemned the attacks and extended heartfelt grief to the government of Turkey and the bereaved families.

President Musharraf in his message to Turkish President Ahmed Necdet Sezer said: “We strongly condemn these acts of terrorism and would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.”

Prime Minister Jamali, in his condolence message to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdgon condemned the attacks and offered condolences to the government and people of Turkey for the loss of life and property.

He said while such terrorist attacks are most condemnable wherever they occur, in the case of Turkey with whom Pakistan had a special relationship, they became a matter of even greater concern and anguish.

“I would like to reiterate that Pakistan firmly supports and stands by the fraternal government and people of Turkey in their determination to fight and root-out the scourge and menace of terrorism,” the prime minister said.—APP