Christian Study Centre condemns suicide blast in Muslim Shrine
Islamabad (AsiaNews) - About 18 people have been killed and several injured in a suspected suicide blast occurred within the compound of Bari Imam shrine in the Pakistani capital Islamabad this morning, where thousands of Sunni and Shiite Muslims had gathered to pay homage to city's patron saint. Dozens of jnjured were shifted to local hospitals.
Mehboob Sada, director of the Christian Study Centre in Rawalpindi-Islamabad diocese said: "We strongly condemn this inhuman and brutal attack on a religious place where a number of innocent people were died and injured. We extend our sympathies and grief to the families of deceased and injured in the incident".
Mr.Sada told AsiaNews that both Sunni and Shiite Muslims were present in the shrine and it was a good example of religious tolerance and harmony but some extremists do not like this and they wanted to destroy the peace and harmony in the country. He urged the government to tighten the security measures to curb those elements who want to create a sense of horror and disharmony in the country.
The Bari Imam shrine is close to Pakistan's main government buildings and the diplomatic enclave, where many embassies and diplomatic residences are located.
"Our initial information suggests it was a suicide attack," Islamabad police chief Talat Mehmood Tariq told newsmen.
On Tuesday, May 17, 58 Pakistani Muslim clerics from different schools issued a fatwa (legal opinion or ruling by a Muslim scholar) in Lahore the provincial capital of Punjab. The fatwa decreed that suicide attacks violated Islamic teachings and were not an instrument for jihad and are 'haram' (forbidden) in Islam.
Rescue operations are underway at the blast site. Ambulances and fire fighters reached the scene. Rescue agencies tried to bring the situation under control.
Grim reactions were shown by the people present at the scene. Stone throwing incident on police occurred. Police used batons to disperse the crowd. State of emergency has been imposed in the local hospitals, while police and security sources cordoned off the site of the incident.
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27/05/2005
