“My group [Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)] claims responsibility for the Karachi attack and we will carry out more such attacks, within 10 days", commander, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) 6:23 PM

- Asmatullah Shaheen, one of the commanders of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Taliban Movement of Pakistan, who spoke by telephone to a Reuters reporter in Peshawar. The blast took place in Karachi on a Muharram mourning procession of Shia muslims.

“The blast was so huge that I felt my hearing had gone, but then I started hearing cries of injured people and saw pieces of human flesh and blood on the road.” 5:03 AM

- Abbas Ali, 35, one of the mourners thrown to the ground when a bomb blast rocked Karachi 10th of Muharram. The riots followed after the explosion and many markets in Karachi at Light House and Bolton Market were set on fire causing loss of millions of rupees.

"However, the night the verdict was announced, every famous TV anchor was jumping and hyperventilating; some almost foamed at the mouth as if struck by a strange, sudden bout of happiness. What is this, I thought? Have we won Kashmir? Have we triumphed in the war against the Taliban? Or have we finally eradicated poverty, illiteracy and hatred from Pakistan?" 7:24 AM

- Nadeem F. Paracha, a 'controversial' Pakistani journalist, cultural critic, satirist and short story writer, in his article, titled 'Smokers’ Corner: Waltz with the NRO', Dec 27, 2009.

“Was it raising the flag of Pakistan at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, launching of Benazir Income Support Programme for the women of Pakistan, raising the slogan of ‘Pakistan khapay’ and to save the federation of Pakistan?” 5:31 AM

- Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, Preident of Pakistan, putting a rhetoric on why he was being criticised. He was addressing a gathering on the second death anniversary of former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto on Dec 27, 2009.

“Former president Musharraf dubbed Sindhi people as ineligible community but today a Sindhi has replaced him... We avoided ‘Pakistan Na Khapay’ slogan due to Zardari.” 5:29 AM

- Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza, Sindh Home Minister, speaking at Rato Dero, Sindh on Dec 27, 2009.

"There was a recognition by all the Pakistani leaders (earlier this year)...that the main threat to the very writ of Pakistani governance was the internal extremist threat" 5:02 PM

- US Central Command chief, General David Patraeus.

Source: Dawn, Sunday, 13 Dec, 2009

"You don't change Pakistan's strategic behavior very easily. It is not something that will change in the course of months or years." 2:16 PM

-- Bruce Riedel, ex-CIA analyst.