Several political and religious parties of Pakistan on Friday condemned the killing of a senior religious leader in a suicide attack, saying those elements behind the murder are bent on fanning the fire of sectarianism.

 

Central leader of alliance of Islamic parties and prominent Shiite leader Allama Hasan Turabi was killed in a suicide attack in the port city of Karachi on Friday.

 

A suicide bomber blew himself up when Allama Hasan Turabi was heading to his residence, Home Minister of Sindh Province Abdul Rauf Siddiqui said.

 

Allama Hasan Turabi was considered as the high profile target of the terrorists and escaped unhurt in another bomb attack in April this year, according to local private Geo TV reports.

 

Hundreds of youth took to the streets in different parts of the city and chanted slogans against the US and the government for its failure to protect citizens, Geo TV reported.

 

They broke traffic signals and burnt tyres on roads and the police diverted the traffic.

 

Secretary General of the alliance of Islamic groups, Mutahida Majli-e-Amal (MMA) Maulana Fazal ur Rehman condemned the attack and described Allama Turabi's death as a huge loss for Pakistan.

 

He asked for calm and patience and said that it is the handiwork of those who want to destroy peace and create sectarian rift.

 

Chief of Islami Tehrik Allama Sajid Ali Naqvi and other Shiite groups have announced three-day mourning in the country.

 

Naqvi said that terrorists have held the whole country hostage and they are targeting religious leaders.

 

He described the incident as a move to harm unity of the people, asking his supporters to remain calm and frustrate designs of those who want to pitch Muslims against Muslims.

 

Chief of MMA Qazi Hussain Ahmed also condemned the murder and termed it as a great loss for the alliance of Islamic groups.

 

Central leader of Mutahida Qaumi Movement Imran Farooq also denounced the attack.

 

Chief Minister Sindh Province Arbab Ghulam Rahim said the authorities had no warning of the attack and that there is no solution to check suicide bombings.

 

Rahim said the security was tight and there was no security lapse.

 

He said there is no link of the suicide attack with the seven bomb blasts in train in the Indian city of Mumbai.

 

High alert was declared in Karachi and other parts of the country after the blast. Home Minister of Sindh province Siddiqui said that patrolling of paramilitary rangers and police have been increased.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2006)