The world has strongly condemned the dreaded terrorist attacks on The Caravan of Democracy in Karachi last night.
The blasts occurred at midnight when the Caravan led by Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto was on its way to the Mazar-e-Qaed. Mohtarama Benazir survived the attack but nearly 150 people killed and 300 injured.
Secretary General of United Nations Ban Ki Moon, European Union, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, Japan, Germany, China, India, Iran, Afghanistan, Indonesia and other countries have condemned the incident.
‘No political cause can justify the murder of innocent people’ said Secretary General of UN.
European Union has condemned the attacks and urged the authorities to bring those responsible to justice.
The U.S. State Department has issued a statement condemning the attacks which targeted a peaceful political rally.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Miliband was appalled by the attack and pledged that their government will work with all those who committed to peace and democracy in Pakistan.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy also condemned the attack and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
Australian President John Howard said that Al-Qaida was responsible for the attacks.
‘It is a reminder of the evil of Al-Qaida. It is a reminder of how important it is not to concede a victory to them in or in Afghanistan’ he added.
‘Canada strongly condemns the tragic bombing of Benazir Bhutto’s motorcade in Karachi, which has caused significant loss of life. We extend our deepest sympathies to the scores of innocent people who are suffering from this appalling act of violence’ said a statement issued by Maxime Bernier, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In a statement issued by Foreign Ministry of Japan on Friday, the attacks are condemned and said, ‘Japan will continue to fight against terrorism in cooperation with the international community.’
Similarly German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also condemned the attacks and said, ‘The brutality of this insidious act fills us with horror. It had the completely unjustified intention of destroying democracy in Pakistan’ DPA News Agency quoted him on Friday.
On their part, China, India, Afghanistan, Iran and Indonesia also condemned the attack.
‘China sternly condemns the explosion. We hope Pakistan will maintain social stability’ Xinhua News quoted Liu Jianchao, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman.
‘We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks in Karachi yesterday. It is reprehensible that senior political figures are targeted in this way with such loss of innocent life’ said Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Navtej Sarna.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai mentioned it as a ‘brutal and cowardly’ attack and condemned it strongly. He said that the terrorism must be defeated at the ‘right place’.
‘The right place is where terrorists get trained, where they have bases for training and receiving money’ he urged.
On Friday morning, Iran also condemned the attack. ‘Iran supports constant security and stability in all its neighbouring states, including Pakistan’ said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini.
‘The Indonesian government strongly condemns the terrorist attack, expresses sympathy and sends condolences to families of the victims and the Government of Pakistan’ a spokesman of the Indonesian foreign affairs ministry, Kristiarto Soeryo Legowo, said on Friday.
Besides this, Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, ex-PM Nawaz Sharif, ANP leader Asfandyar Wali Khan and political parties have strongly condemned the blasts.