Goff condemns bombings in Pakistan

The recent bombings in Pakistan are unacceptable and should be widely condemned, Labour Leader Phil Goff said.

“No matter what the motives, it is not right for innocent people to die because of such dastardly acts,’ he said, speaking at the relaunch of the ‘Out-of-Parliament Office’ of Labour MP Dr Ashraf Choudhary in Otara, Manukau City on October 17.

He did not refer to any specific bombings but Pakistan was subject to several incidents during that week.

Swat Valley became the setting for bombings on October 12, the fourth major attack in eight days. Military officials said that in a Shangla district market, an adolescent, strapped with explosives, detonated himself near an army convoy, killing 41 people and wounding dozens of people.

The blast came two days after a stunning attack by militants on the armed forces’ headquarters in Rawalpindi, which killed 23 people. A day earlier, about 50 people died in a car bombing in Peshawar.

Mr Goff, who has been the country’s Foreign Minister and Trade Minister, voiced the opinion of most New Zealanders that suicide bombings and terrorist attacks were no way to demonstrate fundamental differences.

He said people of various ethnic communities would find the Labour Party office a good point of contact.

About 200 people attended the function, which was organised also to introduce Dr Choudhary’s new assistant, Alamgir Afridi.

Among them were MPs Chris Carter, Ross Roberston, Su’a William Sio, Raymond Huo, former minister and MP Matt Robson, community leaders Prithipal Singh, Ajit Singh Randhawa, Paramjit Singh Dhatt, Ilango Krishnamoorthy and Labour Party workers.

Dr Choudhary said the office will offer advise, advocacy, and liaison with the members of the ethnic communities.

“They can express their views and concerns on various issues of relevance to them and we will do the needful,” he said.

Alright boys, let us look at 2011. Phil Goff with Ross Robertson, Dr Ashraf Choudhary and Su’a William Sio. In the background is Alamgir Afridi.