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ISLAMABAD, March 17: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Sunday condemned the act of terrorism in which five people attending Sunday Mass at the International Protestants’ Church in the Diplomatic Enclave were killed and several others injured.
The President said the nefarious act was aimed at sabotaging Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism.
He said Pakistan remained undeterred to continue efforts to fight terrorism in all its forms.
The President ordered the security agencies to launch a coordinated hunt to track down the culprits involved in the grenade attack. He said those involved must be unearthed so as to know on whose behest they committed this ghastly act of terrorism, as these criminals were clearly working against Pakistan’s interests.
Offering condolences to the bereaved families, the President directed the administration and health authorities to provide maximum assistance to those affected. —APP
GEORGE BUSH: President George W. Bush has expressed his outrage at the attack on a church in Islamabad on Sunday in which two Americans were killed and said the US would work closely with Pakistan to bring the culprits to justice, adds Our Staff Correspondent from Washington.
In a statement issued by the White House, Mr Bush said he was outraged at the terrorist attack and condemned it as an act of murder that “cannot be tolerated by any person of conscience nor justified by any cause”.
Offering condolences to the families of those killed, the statement said: “We will work closely with the Government of Pakistan to ensure that those responsible for this terrorist attack face justice.”
CHAMBERLIN: US Ambassador Wendy Chamberlin condoled the death of five innocent civilians, including an American woman and a teenage girl, and reaffirmed her government’s resolve to continue fight against terrorism, adds Our Staff Reporter from Islamabad.
In a brief statement, which she made at a briefing at the American Centre, Ms Chamberlin termed the terrorist attack on the International Protestant Church as a “cowardly” and “senseless” act.
She said there was a hard lesson to be drawn from Sunday’s tragic incident that President Bush and President Musharraf and all those courageous men and women were absolutely right to take on the terrorists, no matter where they were.
She said they would not give in to those who were driven by hate and to those who were so cowards to throw explosive on innocent people in the house of God.
“These terrorists will not win, not in America, not in Pakistan and we will not let them win anywhere in the world,” she said.
The American ambassador who appeared grim and disturbed did not take any questions, saying that she would reply these at some other day.
“Those who know me, who know the United States and who know my president, know we will answer these questions another day because we will be here,” she added.
Extending condolences to the family of deceased Barbara Green and her daughter Ms Christine, she said: “I honour them for their lives, for the joy they brought to so many and the credit and honour to the United States.”
She also condoled the death of other three including a Pakistani, an Afghan national and an unidentified person.
JACK STRAW: British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said in London he was “deeply shocked” and was keeping in close touch with the British High Commissioner in Islamabad, adds Reuters.
“I want to express my condolences on behalf of Her Majesty’s government to the families of those who have been killed and to all those who have been injured,” he said.
