ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) Central Executive Committee (CEC) led by General (r) Naeem Khalid Lodhi visited the Sri Lankan High Commission and conveyed condolences to the people of Sri Lanka over Sialkot lynching.
The delegation comprised; Shahid Yusuf, Sulaiman Malik, Shunila Ruth, Lieutenant General (R) Naeem Lodhi ( coordinator), Musadaq Ghuman, Raja Mansoor Khan, Brigadier Samson Simon Sharaf, Arshad Dad ( Head of Delegation), Colonel (R) Amanullah, Nilofar Bakhtyar and Dr Talat Anwar.
According to a statement, the delegation on behalf of the people of Pakistan and the PTI leadership conveyed their heartfelt grief over the tragic incident. It conveyed condolence to the Sri Lankan High Commissioner Vice Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama, the victim’s family and the people of Sri Lanka.
While strongly condemning the brutal incident, the delegation assured of their full support and said that the elements responsible for the Sialkot incident would be taken to task and no leniency would be shown in this regard.
“We are speechless and shocked over the violence by the vigilantes who will be punished. It is not the mindset of Pakistani people rather few miscreant elements carried this nerveless crime,” said the delegation members.
Speaking on the occasion, Sri Lankan High Commissioner said it was shocking to see the brutal attack on Priyantha Diyawadana by the extremist mob.
“However, we are happy that the government of Pakistan and Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken stringent action against the culprits to punish them,” the Ambassador said. He added that already a number of culprits have been rounded up and were behind the bars.
Ambassador Wijewickrama said 99 per cent of Pakistanis have expressed their condolences and sympathies with the Sri Lankan victim’s family.
“This incident will not affect bilateral ties between the two friendly countries,” he said and pointed that the relationship between the two countries dates back to the independence of Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
The tragic incident happened on Friday when some factory workers attacked the Sri Lankan manager and killed him. The Prime Minister took a serious note of the tragedy and directed that no person who was responsible for the mauling be spared.
The police have since arrested over 130 people and identified the main perpetrators, who will be tried under the Anti Terrorism Act.
