Government set on stopping bombers: Zardari

Co-chairman, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Asif Ali Zardari said on Monday the people behind a suicide bomb attack on police that killed 20 people the previous day were trying to create chaos and his government would do everything to stop them.

All but two of those killed in Sunday’s attack were policemen, who had been guarding seminary students and Ulemas marking the anniversary of an army commando raid on Islamabad’s Lal Masjid.

The attack will raise questions about the new government’s policy of trying to end militant violence through negotiations and increase concern about prospects for the country, making a transition to civilian rule.

“PPP realises the grave threat that such terrorist activities pose to the country and the PPP government will do everything possible to check the activities of such elements and those responsible will be brought to justice,” he said.

The government’s top Interior Ministry official, Rehman Malik, said on Sunday eight people had been killed but city police chief, Asghar Raza Gardezi, said on Monday 19 people had died, 13 of them policemen.

Authorities were examining the head of the suspected bomber, though Gardezi said it was too early to draw any conclusions and no suspects had been detained.

STOCKS DOWN

The blast happened several hundred metres (yards) from city-centre Lal Masjid, shortly after a tightly guarded meeting of seminary students and Ulema there had ended.

The attack had added to worry among stock investors whose confidence had already been sapped by political squabbling, insecurity and economic problems, including inflation running at more than 20 percent.

Stocks have been sliding and the rupee set a new low against the dollar last week.

“Already there’s no interest in the market. If anything, it may have added to the negative sentiment,” said Shuja Rizvi, director of broking operations at Capital One Equities Ltd.

The Karachi Stock Exchange 100-share index was 0.6 percent lower in early trade.