Islamabad, July 05: Blaming religious extremists for "ruining" Pakistan's image, President Pervez Musharraf has said that yesterday's attack on a mosque in Quetta, which left 48 dead, has hurt his campaign to improve the country's image abroad and scout for foreign investment. Addressing a press conference on his return from a four-nation foreign tour, Musharraf said that such attacks by extremists negated his attempts to get the travel advisories lifted against Pakistan and scout for foreign investment with assertions that law and order climate has improved.

"As a leader I start feeling small. I go and say something and this unfortunate incident takes place here in our country," he said referring to his numerous meetings with investors and businessmen in UK, US, Germany and France.
Suspected Sunni extremists yesterday exploded a powerful bomb and fired indiscriminately during Friday prayers killing 44 people. Four people succumbed to injuries later. The dead included 45 Shiite worshippers and three attackers.

Asked whether the attack on the mosque was carried by sectarian extremists or he suspected involvement of Afghans, Musharraf said, "It may be the work of sectarian extremists or religious extremists, whom I condemn in strongest terms. They are not only harming our nation but they are bringing a bad name to great religion of Islam."
"They think they are doing this for the sake of the religion but actually they are disgracing our religion."

Bureau Report