President Asif Ali Zardari and the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday called President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapakse and expressed their condemnation and deep regrets over the terror attack on the cricket team of Sri Lanka in Lahore. President Zardari in his call termed the attack on the team of Sri Lankan players as a conspiracy to undermine the deep political and diplomatic ties between the two friendly countries.
President assured his Sri Lankan counterpart that the incident would be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators taken to task. President Zardari apprised President Rajapakse about the strict security measures that were taken to ensure the safety of the Sri Lankan team and said the vigilant policemen on duty thwarted the attempt with their lives. Presidency on Tuesday cancelled the scheduled ceremony of presentation of credentials by some ambassadors today to mourn the incident.
President asked the authorities concerned to immediately investigate the incident so that the perpetrators are identified and their motives exposed. He directed best possible medical treatment for the injured. While the Prime Minister commiserated with the Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapakse, who is currently in Kathmandu on an official visit. Talking to him on telephone the Prime Minister expressed his profound regrets over this unfortunate incident. He said the incident was a well-planned conspiracy meant to create terror and isolate Pakistan's cricket.
He expressed his gratitude to the Sri Lankan team for visiting Pakistan at a time when most others had regretted doing so and added that the nation would always hold Sri Lanka in high esteem for this friendly gesture. The Prime Minister expressed the confidence that despite this heinous incident, relations between the two countries will move from strength to strength and the sport links will remain intact.-PR