ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: While expressing serious concerns over the rise of Hindu extremism in India, Pakistan has strongly condemned the attack on its cricket officials by Shiv Sena fanatics and said that it will cause further worsening of relations between the two countries.
In a statement issued in Islamabad on Monday, the Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed strongly condemned the attack on Muslim community in India.
The minister expressed his grave concern over the rise of Hindu extremists, particularly from the members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Shiv Sena who have launched an anti-Pakistan and anti-Muslim campaign in India.
The information minister said that the harassment of Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shehryar Khan and member board of governors PCB Najam Sethi who were visiting India and had a scheduled meeting with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), speaks volume of rising anti-Pakistan sentiments in India.
Earlier in the day, Hindu extremists of Shiv Sena stormed the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai where a meeting of PCB Chairman was scheduled with his Indian counterpart Shashank Manohar.
The extremists ransacked the office and chanted slogans against Shehryar Khan and Najam Sethi and demanded their immediate return to Pakistan. Shiv Sena fanatics threatened that they would not allow cricket series between Pakistan and India.
The meeting was eventually cancelled following the attack of Hindu extremists.
The Shiv Sena extremists also threatened not to allow Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar to supervise the fifth and final One Day International (ODI) between India and South Africa to be played at Mumbai on Sunday.
Rasheed also expressed his shock and surprise over the threats to Pakistani umpire, Aleem Dar who is in India and umpiring in the series between India and South Africa.
ICC President regrets attack by Shiv Sena
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive of International Cricket Council (ICC) David Richardson also regretted the attack on the BCCI headquarters by the Shiv Sena extremists.
In his address at a news conference in Dubai, he said that the cricket playing nations should promote mutual cooperation.
