National, world leaders condemn Quetta bombing

ISLAMABAD: The national leadership and international community on Monday strongly condemned the Quetta Civil Hospital bombing in which 70 people, including lawyers and journalists, were martyred and over 100 injured.

In a statement, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the bombing at the Civil Hospital, underscoring that the targeting of mourners at a civilian hospital made the attack “particularly appalling”.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ban urged the government to do its utmost to ensure safety of the population and bring to justice the perpetrators of today’s attack.The White House condemned the terrorist attack at the Quetta Civil Hospital as “horrific” and said the US was committed to helping Pakistan fight extremists.

“That this attack occurred at a hospital and appeared to target a gathering of lawyers mourning the death of a respected colleague makes it all the more heinous,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement.

“Our hearts go out to the families and other loved ones of the more than 60 killed, and we wish a speedy recovery to the dozens more injured.”

Mr. Earnest said the US “is committed to our continuing counterterrorism partnership with Pakistan, and we remain resolute in joining with the people of Pakistan in confronting terrorism in Pakistan and across the region.”

Saudi Ambassador Abdullah Marzouk Al-Zahrani condemned the bombing and said the people of Saudi Arabia stood with their brethren in Pakistan on this tragedy.

Marzouk said there was no place for any kind of terrorism. “The people of Pakistan have been facing terrorism for the last many years and the government and people of Saudi Arabia always stood with their Pakistani brethren,” he added.

President Mamnoon Hussain and prominent political personalities, while condemning the Quetta Civil Hospital blast, vowed not to let terrorists succeed in their goal.

The president directed provision of best treatment to those injured in the attack and prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali also condemned the Quetta blast. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto condemned the blast and criticized the government’s counter-terrorism strategy.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan termed the terrorists cowards who attack hospitals and kill innocent people.

PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi condemned and expressed grief over the incident.  Talking to a private channel, he said such elements were behind this attack who wished not to see Pakistan progress. 

Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani vehemently condemned the terrorist attack in Quetta. In a statement issued by the Senate Media Cell, Rabbani said the armed forces and civilians had sacrificed so many lives to crush terrorism and added such cowardly acts were aimed at spreading fear. 

He noted that in order to eliminate terrorism, all segments of the society would have to collectively fight. He prayed for the departed souls, prayed for an early recovery of the injured persons and condoled with the bereaved families. 

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif strongly condemned the Quetta Civil Hospital bombing and expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the loss of precious human lives. He sympathized with the bereaved families and prayed for an early recovery of the injured.

Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Sirajul Haq strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Quetta and termed it an attack on Pakistan and its peaceful people. Addressing a national conference on international terrorism and Pakistan in Islamabad under the aegis of Mili Yakjehti Council on Monday, he said the RAW and KHAD had a hand in the attack.

MYC President Sahibzada Dr Abul Khair Zubair, Jamatud Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and JI Secretary General Liaquat Baloch also condemned the bombing. AJK Premier Raja Farooq Haider condemned the Civil Hospital bombing and termed terrorists coward for attacking hospitals and killing innocent people.

In a statement, he expressed his sorrow and grief over the loss of human lives. He said elements opposed to seeing Pakistan develop and progress were behind the attack. He said it was shocking that a hospital had been targeted. The KP Assembly strongly condemned the bombing and called for evolving a strategy for maintaining law and order in the country.