ISLAMABAD, July 12: The Pakistan Muslim League on Wednesday condemned the bomb blasts in Mumbai saying that such acts of terrorism should be curbed.

“Terrorism has no religion. It’s a big menace to humanity which should be rooted out. All Muslims strongly condemn the explosions,” said the PML secretary general Mushahid Hussain Syed. He was speaking as chief guest at a function organised by the Islamic Relief to launch Integrated Development Programme for AJK and Baluchistan.

Mr Mushahid said “Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance” and opposed to terrorism, extremism and bigotry. He praised the Islamic Relief, European Commission and other organisations which took part in rescue and relief operations in the earthquake-hit areas. Islamic Relief was projecting the true image of Islam in the shape of its services to humanity irrespective of religion, caste and creed.

He was all praise for the philanthropists in Britain, US and other European countries for their magnanimity in service to humanity. Unlike this, very wealthy people amongst the Muslims are always reluctant to give charity, he observed. They are greedy and always expect to receive from others, he said. He advised the well-to-do and rich people in Pakistan, Arab countries to take lessons from the social workers and philanthropists in the West.

Speaking on the occasion, acting head of Delegation of the European Commission to Pakistan Emmanuel Mersch spoke about EU- Pakistan relation terming it as dynamic, continuous and mutually beneficial.

He said that the European Commission provided funds of upto 48.6 million euro for the earthquake affectees. In order to support post-earthquake medium and long term recovery in NWFP and AJK, the Commission adopted in December 2005 a financing proposal ‘EC Earthquake Early Recovery and Reconstruction Support’ of 50 million euro, bringing the total assistance for the earthquake to 98.6 million euro, he said.