Various religious and political parties have condemned the murder of Maulana Aslam Sheikhupuri in strong terms, and called upon the government to apprehend the murderers.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi chief Mohammed Hussain Mahenti and Sunni Tehrik head Sarwat Ejaz Qadri said people behind the murder were against Islam and humanity.

They prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul and for courage for the bereaved family.

Qadri said the government was busy issuing statements against targeted killings in the city, but failed to control the situation.

The Tanzeem-e-Islami also condemned the murder.

Halim Adil Sheikh, Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh and Sindh Minister for Local Bodies Agha Siraj Durrani expressed deep shock and grief over the incident.

News Desk adds:

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Sunday condemned the killing of noted religious scholars Maulana Aslam Sheikhupuri and Maulana Muhammad Safreen in an attack in the Dhoraji area of Bahadurabad.

He termed the double murder a conspiracy to ignite sectarian strife in the city.

Hussain appealed to religious scholars from different schools of thought to maintain religious harmony and asked them to remain patient.

The MQM chief offered his heartfelt condolences to the family of Maulana Sheikhupuri and Maulana Safreen. He also prayed for the early recovery of the guards who were injured in the attack. He demanded that President Zardari, Prime Minister Gilani, Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah ensure that the killers were apprehended as soon as possible.