Islamabad, March 2 (IANS) Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Wednesday strongly condemned the assassination of the country’s Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti.
Zardari in a statement vowed that such acts would not deter the government from eliminating extremism and terrorism. He also sought a report on the incident, Pakistan’s news agency AAP reported.
Terming the incident as a ‘heinous act’, President Zardari said the government would continue to stand firm on its stance and would not bow to the extremists and terrorists.
Conveying his heartfelt condolences to Bhatti’s family, Zardari said the extremist elements were trying in vain to destabilise the country. He expressed the resolve that such attempts would fail.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, meanwhile, ordered a probe into Shahbaz Bhatti’s assassination, as he visited the local Al-Shifa hospital where the body of killed minister was shifted soon after he was shot dead by unknown assailants.
He said such acts would not deter the government’s resolve to fight terrorism and extremism.
He expressed deep sorrow and grief over the death of Bhatti.
