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Pakistani authorities ask for immediate release of abducted Chinese

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-06-23 18:49

ISLAMABAD, -- Pakistani Interior Ministry Saturday said in a statement that the abduction of Chinese from a health clinic by Lal Masjid administration is "a shocking and unlawful act," asking for immediate release of the abducted.

The Islamabad Administration is in contact with Lal Masjid Administration to secure the release of abductees, said the statement.

"All the abducted persons should be released immediately and the Lal Masjid administration would be entirely responsible if any harm comes to these abductees," it said.

The statement added that the government retains all options and shall take appropriate measures to ensure the safety and security of the inhabitants of Islamabad.

A group of religious students from Jamia Hafza, a seminary under the hard-line Islamabad-based Lal Majid (Red Mosque), on the wee hours of Saturday raided the house in Islamabad and kidnapped Chinese.

Pakistani Interior Ministry Saturday in the statement did not give the exact number of Chinese abductees, but according to information obtained from reliable sources by Xinhua that a total of seven Chinese, six female and one male, were abducted.

Latest information Xinhua obtained said among the seven, two Chinese have already been released by Lal Majid.

Clerics of Lal Majid had vowed to enforce Shariat in the country and even form a court consisting of clerics to monitor people's life. Months ago, the mosque administration had asked all the music CD shops in the capital city to close.

Religious students of Jamia Hafza have been occupying a government library since months ago after entering into a land dispute with authorities.

The seminary students upon the calling from the mosque administration have at one time even kidnapped some policemen.