KARACHI, Dec 26: Leaders of different political parties have condemned attempts on the life of President Gen Pervez Musharraf in the strongest words.

Terming it a heinous terrorists act, in which 15 innocent people lost their lives, they said attempts on president’s life and killing of innocent people was against Islam.

Condemning the assassination attempt as ‘naked terrorism’ chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, has said that the ‘hidden hands’ involved in the attack are neither friends of Pakistan, nor of its people.

He thanked Allah Almighty for saving the president’s life and called for tightening of security by all those entrusted with the job — the military intelligence, ISI and the Intelligence Bureau.

He appealed to the public and political parties to sink their differences at this time of grave crisis when president’s security was at stake, and when Pakistan was surrounded by threats from all around.

The president of Pakistan Peoples Party, Sindh chapter, and leader of opposition in the provincial assembly, Nisar Khuhro, said that the assassination attempts, twice with in a short span of 12 days, were indication of serious security lapse, particularly in a sensitive area.

He said competing in political field was a democratic right, but no sane person could think of committing such an act of terrorism which could enlist Pakistan among the countries where suicide bombing took place.

Mr Khuhro said such acts could be the outcome of total frustration and called for measures to check these, particularly their recurrence in the same area, which raised many questions.

Jamaat-i-Islami deputy chief Prof Ghafoor Ahmad said that occurrence of the incident in the cantonment area was a matter of great concern and a manifestation of a grave situation.

Prof Shah Faridul Haque, acting president of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, termed the attack a result of a conspiracy being hatched against the president and a manifestation of government’s weakness. If a government failed to protect the president, it should resign.

PML-N central committee member Sardar Rahim said this was regrettable that the national security agencies were busy in harassing and tarnishing the image of politicians rather than doing their designated duty.

National Awami Party’s leader Amin Khattak said that in a country where the army chief was not secure, one could not think of the security of common man.

Meanwhile, PML organized a meeting at the residence of provincial minister Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh, member of the central organizing committee of the party.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Shaikh said that attempt on the life of President Pervez Musharraf was a conspiracy against security, defence and development of the country and the nation had to unite to counter this heinous conspiracy.

Sindh Governor, Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan chaired a special meeting with Chief Minister Sardar Ali Mohammed Mahar and members of Sindh Cabinet, in which the attempt on the life of president was condemned, adds APP.

Through a unanimously passed resolution, the participants of the meeting expressed their complete confidence in the leadership of President Pervez Musharraf and pledged to continue their support for his reform programmes and policies.

Pakistan Muslim League (Q) held a meeting at the Muslim League House, under the chairmanship of Senator Nisar Memon, Convener, PML Organising Committee, Sindh and chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Water, in which the attack on President Pervez Musharraf was vehemently denounced.

Speaking on the occasion, Senator Nisar Memon declared that the whole nation firmly stood by the president and would deal with the terrorist elements ruthlessly.