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Pak president, PM condemn killing of nationals in Iraq

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, July 29, IRNA -- Pakistan`s President Pervez Musharraf and 
Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain have condemned the reported 
murder of two kidnapped Pakistanis by their captors in Iraq. 
A militant group holding two Pakistani contractors hostage said 
on Wednesday it had killed the men, but freed their Iraqi driver, 
the Pan-Arab television station Al-Jazeera reported. 
"President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat 
Hussain have received with the greatest distress and anguish the news 
of the reported murder of two Pakistanis in Iraq," Pakistan state 
television PTV said Thursday. 
Musharraf and Shujaat said that they sympathized with the 
bereaved families and that they shared their grief and sorrow along 
with millions of other Pakistanis. 
The group, calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq, announced on 
Monday that it had kidnapped two Pakistanis working for US forces and 
had sentenced them to death because their country was discussing 
sending troops to Iraq. 
The Pakistani president and prime minister said those who have 
committed this crime have caused the greatest harm both to humanity 
and Islam. 
They said Pakistan has always condemned terrorism in all its 
forms and manifestations and believes that such barbaric acts can 
never be justified, PTV said. 
"The president and the prime minister reiterated Pakistan`s firm 
commitment to the security and independence of Iraq and hoped that 
Iraq and its people will see complete security and stability free 
of internal and external turmoil." 
The kidnapped men were identified by Pakistan as engineer Raja 
Azad, 49, and driver Sajad Naeem, 29, both of whom worked for the 
Kuwait-based al-Tamimi group in Baghdad. The militants also warned the
company to stop doing business in Iraq or they would kill more of its 
employees. 
The two Pakistanis belonged to Pakistan Kashmir. 
Commenting on the news regarding execution of two Pakistani 
citizens in Iraq, President Pakistan Kashmir Sardar Anwar Khan told 
Geo TV that the execution was a gruesome and inhuman act. 
He said Kashmiris were shocked by the news since they were sure 
of their safe release. He said both Pakistanis were innocent and their
murder was shocking news for entire Pakistan and Kashmir. 
TK/TSH/1422