ISLAMABAD, Oct 9: Parties in the PPP-led ruling coalition as well as the opposition condemned on Tues-day the barbaric attack on schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai and described it an act of cowardice.

President Asif Ali Zardari said that terrorists would never be able to shake the resolve of the nation by such dastardly acts and the government, with the support of the nation, would continue its fight against terrorists till its logical conclusion.

He said that girls like Malala Yousufzai symbolised the quest for knowledge among girls of Swat and other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also condemned the attack and said the nation would have to fight the terrorists jointly.

Speaking in the Senate he said: “If Malala is not safe, no daughter is safe and the nation will have to fight jointly against this militant mindset.”

The prime minister also telephoned the father of Malala Yousufzai and expressed sympathy with him over the barbaric act carried out by terrorists.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said he had been saddened and shocked by the attack on such a brilliant daughter of the nation.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the TTP was the enemy of the country, Islam and humanity.

MQM leader Altaf Hussain said that perpetrators of the vile act should be swiftly brought to justice.

He said that Malala Yousufzai, displaying courage and determination, lit the candle of knowledge in Swat and drew other students towards acquiring education.

Mr Hussain said the attack on Malala was an attack on all humanity.

ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan and the party’s provincial president, Senator Afrasiab Khan Khattak, said the nation could not be demoralised by such evil and barbaric acts of terror.