Shock, surprise, sadness was the immediate reaction from the Pakistani expatriate community across the Kingdom to the recent Marriott Hotel bomb blast in Islamabad . It was a terrible act that should not have happened in the name of Islam, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, several Pakistanis told Saudi Gazette. “Terrorist attacks have become a regular feature in Pakistan. Our own Pakistani people are involved, and it is very depressing that a great nation has become the target of terrorists,” said Ifthikar Khwaja, Sales & Marketing Manager in Al-Quraysh Establishment and a Pakistani community member in Dammam. A major section of the Pakistani community, which had hoped that with Asif Ali Zardari moving to the President's House the country's democratic process would be strengthened, believe that the attack was yet another attempt to derail the democratic process. “What happened in Islamabad is intolerable for any practicing Muslim. The fact that they committed this immoral deed in the holy month killing innocent people adds to the worries of true believers,” Fouzia, a schoolteacher in Dammam, said. “I did not sleep that night. The harrowing scenes of dead bodies, smashed vehicles, the collapsed and burning 6-story Marriott Hotel broadcast live on TV disturbed me the whole night,” she added. Umer Farook hails from Pakistan's Sindh province and works in an export firm in Al-Khobar. He said the Pakistan government must deal with the deadly terrorist forces with an iron hand and the real culprits should be brought to book. The bomb attack came just hours after Asif Ali Zardari said he would root out terrorism and extremism wherever and whenever it occurs. This was his first speech to MPs since he replaced Pervez Musharraf in August. The attack has to be seen as a reaction from anti-national forces to Zardari's peace initiatives, Farook said. Ihsanul Haq, a long-time resident of the Eastern Province and a well-known Pakistani community leader, said the blast has dashed all hopes that the democratic process will usher in permanent peace and prosperity in the country. Sajidha Khan, a housewife and a strong supporter of President Zardari said: “Media reports say that the incident happened hardly 200 meters away from the venue where the president was attending a function. I strongly believe that this heinous act indicates that the terrorist's real target was the president”. __
