PM writes to Musharraf, Benazir; condemns Karachi blasts

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today wrote messages to Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf and former premier Benazir Bhutto, condemning Thursday nights blasts that claimed close to 140 lives and injured hundreds of others.

New Delhi, Oct 19 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today wrote messages to Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf and former premier Benazir Bhutto, condemning Thursday night's blasts that claimed close to 140 lives and injured hundreds of others.

Singh conveyed his condolences on the loss of lives. He also condemned terrorism and extremism in all its forms.

At least 139 people were killed, including three police officers, and over 550 were injured late on Thursday night as suspected suicide bombers tried to attack Benazir's convoy on her return to the country after eight-year self-imposed exile.

Two explosions went off a minute apart shortly after midnight near Karsaz close to the vehicle Bhutto was travelling in, at the head of a procession of hundreds of thousands of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) supporters who had flooded the streets of Karachi to welcome her.

The attack reportedly bore the hallmarks of al Qaeda and resembled assassination attempts by militants linked to the terrorist network on President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in recent years.

A state of high alert has been declared in Karachi.

Schools and colleges will remain closed in the city. A medical emergency has been declared at the Jinnah and the Civil Hospitals here.

Traffic was thin on the roads of Karachi on Friday, as a majority of the people decided to remain indoors.

ANI