- Four Pakistanis among injured
- Foreign minister Qureshi speaks to Sri Lankan Prime Minister to express solidarity
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan strongly condemned the string of deadly Easter day bombings in Sri Lanka which have so far killed more than 280 people and injured at least 500, including four Pakistanis, in a series of blasts targeting churches and hotels in three cities.
The foreign ministry confirmed that three Pakistani women and a child were injured in the blasts. All four sustained minor injuries and were discharged after receiving treatment.
“Strongly condemn the horrific terrorist attack in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday resulting in precious lives lost & hundreds injured. My profound condolences go to our Sri Lankan brethren. Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with Sri Lanka in their hour of grief,” Prime Minister Imran Khan said in a twitter post.
Hours after the bombings, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi spoke to Sri Lankan Prime Minster Ranil Wickremesinghe to express his deepest condolences on behalf of Prime Minister Khan, and extended Pakistan’s help and support to the government and people of Sri Lanka.
A statement from the foreign office said Qureshi had conveyed sympathies to the victims’ families and prayed for the recovery of the injured.
In their conversation, he also said that as a victim of prolonged terrorism, Pakistan “fully understands the pain of their Sri Lankan brethren”
There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the bombings in a country which has seen a lull in major attacks since the end of its civil war 10 years ago, during which time bomb blasts in the capital were common.
The Sri Lankan government declared a curfew and has blocked access to most major social media and messaging sites on a day that is celebrated by Christians around the world as the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his death on the cross.