India has expressed deep shock over the terror attack on Benazir Bhutto at the homecoming procession in Karachi on Thursday midnight. India criticized the bomb attack on Bhutto as reprehensible and indirectly urged Pakistan to take more steps to curb the growing problem of terrorism in the region.

Navtej Sarna, Spokesperson, External Affairs Ministry said:

We strongly condemn the terrorist attack in Karachi yesterday. It is reprehensible that senior political figures are being targeted in this way with such loss of innocent lives.

All governments should make determined efforts to deal with terrorism. Spectre of terrorism confronting our region requires strong and determined action by all our governments.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has also expressed distress and outrage over the blasts to kill Bhutto on his return to Pakistan. CPI-M politburo said in a statement:

The forces, which do not want democracy to be restored in Pakistan, are behind this attack. The party is heartfelt sympathy and condolences to all those who have lost their family members and suffered grievous injuries.

Leader of Opposition Lal Krishna Advani said that he was horror-struck over the terror attacks on Bhutto on Thursday night. He said that he was relieved Bhuttohad not been injured in the killing bid.

He said:

I am aghast at the news of the terrorist attack on Benazir Bhutto’s convoy in Karachi within hours of her return from exile.

He also raised uncertainties about the Pakistani government’s sincerity to restore democracy in Pakistan.

On Friday, a suicide bomber attacked on Benazir Bhutto’s cavalcade at 1AM in Karachi and killed more than 140 people gathering to welcome Benazir in Pakistan after eight years of exile. According to the report, the suicide bomber first lobbed a powerful grenade to the procession and them blew himself within minutes of the first blast.

The blasts occurred just about 10-15 ft away from the armored truck in which Bhutto was sitting that was moving through Karachi roads. Bhutto, who had received death threats from the Taliban and the al-Qaeda when she had announced her return, escaped unhurt. The twin blasts killed more than 140 people right at the spot. The latest report said that more than 400 people have been injured including 30 police personnel.

According to AP reports, the first explosion was sounded like a tire had blown out on a bus but another much stronger blast hit hard and created horrific scene of carnage everywhere. A police van caught in fire, the streets were littered with the dead bodies and injured people.

Arms, legs and other body parts were scattered everywhere. Limbless victims were crying out to strangers for help in the darkness. Parents started searching for their missing children when the flames sent waves of heat and smell of blood in the air.

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