ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has condemned the alleged targeted killing of a renowned religious scholar, Maulana Dr. Adil Khan, in Karachi on Saturday before accusing India of attacking clerics to fan “sectarian conflict” across the country.
“Condemnable targeted killing of Maulana Adil of Jamia Farooqia in Karachi this evening. My govt has known & I have repeatedly stated this on TV, since last 3 months India’s attempts to target kill Aalims [clerics] from Sunni & Shia sects to create sectarian conflict across the country,” he tweeted on Saturday night.
Condemnable targeted killing of Maulana Adil of Jamia Farooqia in Karachi this evening. My govt has known & I have repeatedly stated this on TV, since last 3 months India's attempts to target kill Aalims from Sunni & Shia sects to create sectarian conflict across the country. pic.twitter.com/HbhJ0o16zB
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 10, 2020
He added that his administration has “prevented a number of such attempts preemptively in last few months.”
“Our intelligence orgs & law enforcement agencies will nab culprits of this murder also. Our ulema [clerics[ from all sects must ensure people do not fall prey to this nefarious Indian design to destabilize Pak [Pakistan],” another tweet said.
After their vehicle was stopped near Karachi’s Shah Faisal Colony, armed pillion riders opened fire on Maulana Khan, who headed Pakistan’s Jamia Farooqia seminary, and his driver, killing both of them instantly before fleeing from the scene.
In a Twitter post on Saturday, Pakistan’s army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa also condemned Maulana Khan’s murder.
“Expressing grief on assassination of renowned religious scholar Maulana Adil in Karachi, #COAS strongly condemned the incident and termed it an attempt to foment unrest by Pakistan’s enemies,” a tweet by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
Gen. Bajwa also directed “all-out support” for the civil administration to bring the criminals to justice.
