PESHAWAR, Pakistan, MAY 16, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Church leaders condemned the slaying of innocent people after a hotel bomb in Pakistan killed at least 24 people and injured dozens more.
The Tuesday explosion struck the Marhaba Hotel, frequented mostly by Afghans and located near the centuries-old Mahabat Mosque, in northwest Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan, reported www.AsiaNews.it.
The Catholic Church in Pakistan condemned the attack and called on the government to "re-establish law and order" in the country.
"We strongly condemn the killing of innocent people" said Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha, chairman of the bishops' conference of Pakistan.
"It is a sign of greater anarchy and intolerance because of declining law and order. As a result of this, some people are taking advantage of the situation," he added.
The death toll is expected to rise as many of the wounded are in critical condition.
Archbishop Saldanha asked for "impartial investigations into extremism," while offering "prayers for tolerance in Pakistan so that peaceful solutions can be found to conflicts that may lead to a just society."
Code: ZE07051628
Date: 2007-05-16