ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed his sadness over the gruesome act of terrorism in Orlando City of Florida, United States.
Early Sunday, a heavily-armed gunman stormed a gay nightclub in Orlando and opened indiscriminate firing which left at least 53 people dead and another 53 injured. Later the gunman was killed by specially trained SWAT units.
“As head of government and representative of the people of Pakistan, I am deeply saddened by the gruesome act of terrorism in Orlando, Florida. No innocent man, woman or child should ever feel afraid of being shot or killed for being who they are in a progressive and democratic society,” the prime minister said in a statement issued on Sunday.
The prime minister said that this was against every principle of pluralism, tolerance and humanity that we have been striving for. He said that this does not represent the will of a vast majority of Muslims.
“It is just another representation of a cancer of radicalization – one that we promise to fight every day of our lives,” the prime minister remarked.
Sharif prayed for peace of the departed souls, and may the families receive justice for an inexcusable act of inhumanity.
The US media identified the gunman as Omar Mateen and an alleged Daesh sympathizer. Omar Mateen, according to media reports, was a US citizen of Afghan descent and lived in Port St Lucie, Florida.