KARACHI, Feb 10: Strongly condemning the suicide blast at Hangu mourners on Ashura day in the NFWP, leaders of various political parties, including MQM, PPP and Jamat-i-Islami, demanded arrest of culprits.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement founder Altaf Hussain termed it as naked terrorism, and asked President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to take a notice of the unfortunate incident.

In a statement issued by the party’s international secretariat in London, Mr Hussain maintained that the incident was clearly aimed at destroying sectarian peace and harmony and was meant to engulf the country in a fratricidal war.

Elements involved in this sinister conspiracy should be declared as religious outcast and enemies of the mankind, he said.

He added that after ceaseless efforts, the MQM had not only succeeded in establishing exemplary harmony between different sects, but had cleaned the province of sectarian tension.

The miscreants with sinister designs were, however, still active in pitching brother against brother by inciting their sentiments, adds PPI.

Later in a statement, Mr Hussain condemned the incidents of arson and firing in Hangu as part of a sinister design to cause sectarian conflagration in the country and appealed to people to remain calm and foil the conspiracy.

He regretted that the Ashura day blast was itself was tragic, and now firing and setting ablaze of dozens of shops and property was part of a calculated programme to spread sectarian hatred.

He appealed to the people not to play in the hands of anti-social elements and terrorists, keep their emotions in control.

He advised the people of NWFP to show unity and solidarity in their ranks and file. He also appealed to religious leaders and the federal and NWFP governments to take special measures for safety and security of the people.

PPP: Pakistan Peoples Party, Sindh has also condemned the terrorism act at Hangu town in which about 35 mourners died.

“ It is an open terrorism and we condemn it in strongest words and hold the government responsible for it because the it is, in fact, the outcome of carelessness of the government,” PPP Sindh Chief Syed Qaim Ali Shah said in a statement on Friday.

Expressing sympathies with the bereaved families, the PPP leader lashed out at the government, saying it has failed to protect the life and property of the citizens.

Rashid Rabbani, Waqar Mehdi, Iftikhar Qazi and other leaders also condemned the suicidal attack on mourners in Hangu.

On Thursday, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, accompanied by other party leaders, participated in main procession of mourners and also visited party camp at Numaish Chowrangi.

Meanwhile, Allama Saleem Haider, a Shia leader on Friday condemned the bomb attack on Ashura procession in Hangu and called for immediate arrest of the culprits. He also called for the release of “innocent Shia and Sunni clerics”.

He was speaking to protestors under the banner of Shia Students Action Committee for Northern Areas (SSACNA), who staged a protest demonstration at the Karachi Press Club.