ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik told the National Assembly on Tuesday that authorities had arrested four activists of the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) for their involvement in the deadly bombing in Karachi’s Abbas Town area.

Malik told the NA that the Karachi bombing was a replication of similar sectarian attacks in Quetta. He claimed that a conspiracy was being hatched to delay general elections.

The interior minister said he had visited Karachi on Monday and had held meetings with law enforcement agencies to stop the recurrence of such incidents.

The interior minister said he would give a detailed statement in the National Assembly on Wednesday on the law and order situation in the country, particularly Karachi.

Malik again urged the Punjab government to take action against LeJ in Punjab province.

Speaking to reporters, the interior minister said the LeJ was conducting its activities through supervision from Punjab. He urged the Supreme Court to inquire from the Punjab Chief Minister over why no action was being taken against the banned outfit in the province.

He said that if the terrorists could be controlled in Punjab, then terrorism could also be curbed in Karachi.

He reiterated that a list of suspects belonging to the banned organisation had already been sent to the Punjab government.