Offices of Pakistani opposition party attacked, burnt

Armed men attacked and ransacked offices of main opposition party in Pakistan two days after the opposition staged a big anti-government rally, police and the party leaders said Sunday.The offices of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) were attacked in different cities and towns of southern Sindh province and set them ablaze late Saturday night, police said. The armed men also fired gun shorts in the air, witnesses said. No one was hurt in the attacks as all offices were closed at the time of overnight attacks. No group claimed responsibility for the attacks. The PML-N leaders blamed the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and its allies for the attacks. Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Home Minister in Sindh Province, Manzoor Wasan condemned the attacks and ordered an inquiry. PML-N leaders said that unknown men attacked three PML-N offices in an hour. They said the first attack was carried out in the town of Kandhkot at around 12 midnight and later fled. Shortly after the first attack, armed men set on fire the PML-N office in Hyderabad, the second main city after Karachi. General Secretary PML-N in Hyderabad said that PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif’s posters and pictures were also being burnt in different parts of the city. According to the watchman of the building four attackers opened fire and escaped after setting the building alight. The PML-N office in the city of Nawabshah was also attacked and burnt, police said. Residence of PML-N district chief’s brother in Sukker city was also attacked with a petrol bomb, however no casualty was reported, the party leaders said. Sindh Home Minister Manzoor wasan ordered for the judicial inquiry of the incidents and asked the provincial police chief to submit report on priority basis. He also suspended a police officer for failure to protect the offices. He said the government has also increased security for the offices if opposition party. A central PML-N leader Saad Rafiq described the attacks as ‘political terrorism’ and said the party would stage peaceful protest against the incidents. He said the PML-N leaders will visit the ransacked offices later on Sunday and chalk out protest plan.