LONDON, Oct 19: Prime Minister Gordon Brown in a condolence message sent to President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Friday expressed his deep shock over what he said an attack “on Pakistanis exercising their right to express their democratic voice as the country prepares for free and fair elections in January.”

He assured the president of his country’s continuing support to work with all those “committed to building a peaceful and democratic Pakistan”.

The message said: “I was deeply shocked to learn of the bomb blasts in Karachi that have killed over a hundred people and injured so many others. I am appalled by this horrific use of violence against entirely innocent people. I join in condemning utterly this attack on Pakistanis exercising their right to express their democratic voice as the country prepares for free and fair elections in January.

“On behalf of the British Government please accept my sincerest condolences for those Pakistanis who have lost their lives. You can be assured of the United Kingdom’s continuing support to work with all those committed to building a peaceful and democratic Pakistan.”

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said that he had just spoken to the Political Counsellor at the British Embassy in Islamabad. “The figures are as terrible..... over 130 dead, over 500 injured.”