ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday condemned the murder of Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti and vowed that such acts would not deter the government from eliminating extremism and terrorism.

The President who is in Karachi immediately sought a report of the incident from Interior Minister Rehman Malik.

He condemned what he termed as a “heinous act” and said government would continue to stand firm in its stance and would not bow to the extremists and terrorists.

The President in a message to Shahbaz Bhatti’s family conveyed his condolences and said extremist elements were trying in vain to destabilise the country. However, he expressed the resolve that such attempts would fail.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani also condemned the killing and visited the local Al-Shifa hospital where Shahbaz Bhatti’s body had been transferred soon after he was shot dead by unknown assailants.

Prime Minister Gilani ordered an inquiry into the incident.