ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: As at least 43 members of the Ismaili community were killed in a deadly attack in Karachi on Wednesday, their spiritual leader His Highness the Aga Khan has expressed shock and sadness at the incident.
Earlier in the day, a group of militants opened indiscriminate fire on a bus carrying more than 50 members of Ismaili community in Safora Goth area of Karachi. Resultantly, 43 persons including 16 women were killed while over 10 others were injured.
“This attack represents a senseless act of violence against a peaceful community. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the families of those killed and wounded in the attack,” the Aga Khan said in a statement.
In his statement, the Aga Khan noted that the Ismailis are a peaceful global community living in harmony with other religious and ethnic groups in many countries across the world including in the Muslim world.
The Aga Khan said that the Ismaili leaders in Pakistan are currently involved in an emergency operation trying to help the survivors of the attack.
The splinter group of banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Jundullah claimed responsibility for the attack as its spokesman Ahmad Marwat while talking to a foreign news agency said that their militants were involved in attack on Ismaili community’s bus.
