Aga Khan shocked, saddened by attack on Ismailis in Karachi

Says attack, which left 43 people dead, represents a senseless act of violence against a peaceful community

GOUVIEUX, FRANCE: Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, expressed shock and sadness on Wednesday in the wake of an attack on a bus carrying members of the Ismaili community in Karachi that left 43 people dead.

“This attack represents a senseless act of violence against a peaceful community. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed and wounded in the attack,” the Aga Khan said in a statement.

The Aga Khan noted that Ismailis are a peaceful global community, living in harmony with other religious and ethnic groups in many countries across the world.

Ismaili leaders in Pakistan are currently involved in an emergency operation trying to help the survivors of the attack, according to the statement.

Read: LIVE: 43 dead, 24 injured in bus attack on Karachi's Ismaili community

Initial reports said unidentified gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying more than 50 people in Karachi’s Safora Chowrangi area.

There were 16 women and 27 men among those killed.

"It was not immediately clear what the perpetrators’ motives’ were. They may have been political or sectarian in nature," the statement concluded.