Attackers enemy of Islam, Pakistan

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has strongly condemned the incident of suicide attacks on President General Pervez Musharraf in Rawalpindi on Thursday. “It was a deplorable terrorist attack, which must be strongly denounced,” said the chief minister in a press statement on Friday.

He said the people involved in the attacks were enemies of Islam and Pakistan and the government would not let them escape justice. He also condoled the death of government officials who were killed during their duty. “I equally share the grief of the bereaved families,” said Mr Elahi.

Provincial ministers, Syed Raza Ali Gilani, Gul Hameed Rokari, Manazar Ali Ranjha, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Syed Akhtar Hussain Rizvi, Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, Naseem Lodhi, Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal and Rana Qasim Noon also condemned the attempt to murder the president. They described it a terrorist act. In a press statement, they said such acts by inimical forces were meant to sabotage Pakistan’s image and to hurt national integrity and solidarity. “But these elements will not succeed in their nefarious designs,” they said.

District Nazim Mian Amir Mahmood said the nation strongly condemned the attacks to assassinate the president. He prayed for a long life for General Musharraf. In a press statement on Friday, Mr Mahmood warned anti-state elements that their designs to put the security and solidarity of Pakistan at risk, destabilise the ongoing political process and hamper the pace of economic progress would be thwarted by the 140 million Pakistanis. “District governments will play their role to protect the integrity of Pakistan. Every Pakistani demands the culprits involved in the act be taken to task,” the district nazim added.

He said the people of Pakistan had “firm faith” in the leadership of President General Pervez Musharraf. “They are united behind the president and support his progressive policies, bold initiatives and dynamic steps towards the national progress, which have been instrumental in restoring Pakistan’s image at the international level,” he said. Mr Mahmood assured the president of every support and cooperation by the district government and the people of Lahore. —Staff Report

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