By KUNA,
Paris : The French Presidency of the European Union condemned on Monday the blast which occured earlier in the day in the Punjab region of Pakistan where a member of Parliament was targeted and 17 died in what police called a suicide attack.
The attack took place in the city of Bhakkar at the house of Rasheed Akbar Nowani, a member of the Muslim League party headed by Nawaz Sharif.
Reports said that 40 other people were injured, among them the deputy who was seriously injured.
“The Presidency of the European union learned with emotion about the bombing committed today in Bhakkar,” a statement from the French Presidents office said.
The statement noted that todays bombing follows a similar attack last Thursday in Pakistan, where the Pakistani President of the Foreign Affairs Commission, Asfandyar Wali Khan, was targeted.
“The Presidency firmly condemns these unacceptable attacks on the Pakistani national representation and, through this, on democracy,” the EU statement said.
The statement also sent condolences to the families of the victims of this “odious act” and assured Nowani of the sympathy of the European nations.
The European Union additionally pointed out that “in these tragic circumstances,” the EU wanted to express to Pakistan its “entire solidarity in the fight against terrorism.”