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Backlash in Pakistan

Aired September 25, 2002 - 13:35   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: More backlash to the war on terrorism in Pakistan. Authorities are hunting two killers that attacked a Christian charity in Karachi, leaving seven dead.
CNN's Ash-Har Quraishi has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ASH-HAR QURAISHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The two gunmen entered the third-floor office of the organization for peace and justice, a Christian welfare group, just after 10:00 a.m. An office worker who survived the attack with minor injuries made the emergency phone call to authorities. Police say several workers were bound and their mouths taped shut, before two armed assailants shot them each in the head at point-blank range.

Six of them were killed instantly and a seventh died later in the hospital. One more remains seriously wounded. Among the dead: a prominent Christian activist and social worker. Authorities say all of the victims were Pakistani Christians.

This is the fifth fatal attack on Christian organizations since Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf joined the U.S.-led war on terrorism last year, something the government has attributed to a militant backlash.

Violent crimes are not uncommon in Karachi, a port city of over 13 million people. So far, there is very little for officials to go on.

While the motive remains unknown, and no one has taken responsibility for the incident, they have not ruled out any possibilities, and police are hoping the survivors can provide some vital information that may lead them to the attackers.

Ash-Har Quraishi, CNN, Islamabad, Pakistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired September 25, 2002 - 13:35   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: More backlash to the war on terrorism in Pakistan. Authorities are hunting two killers that attacked a Christian charity in Karachi, leaving seven dead.
CNN's Ash-Har Quraishi has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ASH-HAR QURAISHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The two gunmen entered the third-floor office of the organization for peace and justice, a Christian welfare group, just after 10:00 a.m. An office worker who survived the attack with minor injuries made the emergency phone call to authorities. Police say several workers were bound and their mouths taped shut, before two armed assailants shot them each in the head at point-blank range.

Six of them were killed instantly and a seventh died later in the hospital. One more remains seriously wounded. Among the dead: a prominent Christian activist and social worker. Authorities say all of the victims were Pakistani Christians.

This is the fifth fatal attack on Christian organizations since Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf joined the U.S.-led war on terrorism last year, something the government has attributed to a militant backlash.

Violent crimes are not uncommon in Karachi, a port city of over 13 million people. So far, there is very little for officials to go on.

While the motive remains unknown, and no one has taken responsibility for the incident, they have not ruled out any possibilities, and police are hoping the survivors can provide some vital information that may lead them to the attackers.

Ash-Har Quraishi, CNN, Islamabad, Pakistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com