By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS
London : Leaders from across the world Friday condemned the blasts in Pakistan that killed more than 160 people on a convoy being led by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on her return to her homeland after eight years in self-imposed exile.
International outrage to Thursday night’s blasts was led by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who expressed shock at the incident. He strongly condemned “this terrorist attack” and hoped “all political forces will act together to strengthen national unity”.
British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, in Lisbon for a meeting of European leaders, said: “I am appalled by the attacks in Karachi that have killed at least 100 people and injured many others. I condemn utterly the use of violence against entirely innocent people and the attempt to suppress the right of Pakistanis to express their democratic voice. I share the shock of the Pakistani community in the United Kingdom at these horrific attacks.”
“And I commit the government of the United Kingdom to work with all those committed to building a peaceful and democratic Pakistan,” he added.
Across the Atlantic, the United States was swift to condemn “terrorist attacks in Karachi during peaceful political demonstrations”.
“There is no political cause that can justify the murder of innocent people,” State Department spokesman Tom Casey said in a written statement.
Separately, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said: “Extremists will not be allowed to stop Pakistanis from selecting their representatives through an open and democratic process.”
In Pakistan, Bhutto herself blamed supporters of the late dictator Zia Ul Haq – the man who executed her father Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto – while her husband Asif Ali Zardari said, “I blame the government for these blasts. It is the work of the intelligence agencies.”
But Australian Prime Minister John Howard speculated about the hand of Al Qaeda.
“It’s too early to be certain but it looks very much like the work of Al Qaeda. Benazir Bhutto, to her credit, as well as General Musharraf, have both said they will continue to support the Americans in the war on terror. It is a reminder of the evil of Al Qaeda. It is a reminder of how important it is not to concede a victory to them in Iraq or in Afghanistan,” he said.
President Nicolas Sarkozy of France said the attack targeted Bhutto herself and sent his condolences to President Pervez Musharraf and the families of the victims.