KARACHI, April 16: President Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday that a high-level probe into the Nishtar Park carnage was under way and those behind the dastardly act would be apprehended and awarded severe punishment.

The president was speaking to ulema at the Chief Minister’s House here.

“A high-level inquiry is under way to apprehend the culprits responsible for this suicidal attack,” he said. He told the ulema that the ugly incident had caused him more anguish and pain because it had taken place on the blessed occasion of Eid-e-Milad-un- Nabi.

President Musharraf said that federal investigation agencies were helping the provincial government in the high-level probe into the April 11 suicide bombing.

He instructed the provincial government to maintain peace and guarantee security of life and property in Karachi and the rest of Sindh.

President Musharraf pointed out that Islam did not permit sectarianism and extremism. “Islam teaches that killing of an individual is the murder of the entire humanity,” he said. “Our religion also teaches tolerance, amity and brotherhood.”

Referring to the protest strikes over the killings, he said the country’s economy and the poor had been affected by the closure. The president said the government was trying to attract investment but such incidents were creating impediments.

He expressed sorrow and grief over the Nishtar Park tragedy and said he had especially flown to Karachi from Islamabad.

President Musharraf said he was a true Muslim and did not believe in dissensions. “We will have to shun such an approach.” The president asked the ulema to play their role in rooting out extremism.

The ulema assured the president that there was no dissension in their ranks and said they would extend full cooperation to the government.— Agencies