ISLAMABAD/KARACHI, Pakistan: The European Union (EU) has strongly condemned the suicide attack in Sindh’s Shikarpur district which claimed lives of 60 persons.
At least 60 persons were killed while another 60 sustained injuries when a suicide attack took place inside an Imambargah in Lakhi Dar area of Shikarpur on Friday.
In a statement, the EU said that it stands ready to further assist Pakistan to deal with the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism in all its manifestations.
The banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) splinter group Jandullah claimed responsibility for the Shikarpur blast, according to Reuters.
“Our target was the Shia mosque … They are our enemies,” a Jundullah spokesman Fahad Marwat said.
Mourning being observed in Sindh over Shikarpur tragedy
Meanwhile, a one-day mourning is being observed in Sindh on Friday over the Shikarpur tragic incident.
The Deputy Commissioner Shikarpur has announced local holiday in the district today.
Protests in various parts of Karachi against Shikarpur blast
On the call of Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM), Shia Ulema Council and Jaffria Alliance to hold peaceful strike across Sindh, several protests were staged in various parts of Karachi on Saturday against the attack on Shikarpur’s Imambargah.
A large number of people including women and children staged a sit-in at the Numaish traffic intersection. They said that terrorists are roaming freely and the government has failed to protect citizens’ lives.
The protesters also staged sit-ins on Abul Hasan Ispahani Road, Five Start Chowrangi in North Nazimabad, Malir 15 on the National Highway and near Incholi on Shahrah-i-Pakistan.
It was the second blast this month that targeted an Imambargah as earlier on January 9 as well, a blast occurred outside an Imambargah in Chittian Huttian area of Rawalpindi when a Mehfil-e- Eid Milad-un-Nabi (SAWW) was taking place there.
The incident comes as Pakistan is attempting to implement the 20-point national action plan to combat and root out terrorism from the country, an initiative that was set in motion after the deadly terror attack on Peshawar’s Army Public School on December 16 last year.
