ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said the cooperation of religious scholars has been sought to amicably settle the matter of burial of victims of Machh incident.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Friday, he said the Prime Minister will visit Quetta as soon as the matter of burial is settled.

He pointed out that the international powers are behind the targeting of Hazara community over the last many years. He said four such groups have been busted including one in the federal capital which wanted to stoke sectarian strife in the country by targeting the Ulema of different schools of thought.

Strongly condemning the Machh incident, the Interior Minister said the FC has been directed for a large scale search operation in the area to bring the culprits to justice.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said there is a commitment of the Prime Minister to eradicate terrorism and those trying to stoke sectarian violence in the country.

Responding to a question, the Interior Minister admitted that there is a new wave of terrorism in the country. Currently the cities of Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar are on high alert. He said there are security threats to twenty personalities and these also include religious personalities.