hurled grenades at a chapel in a missionary hospital near Islamabad, church officials said.
One of the suspected assailants was also killed and about 20 people were injured in this second attack against a Christian target in Pakistan in less than a week.
The Presiding Bishop of the Church of Pakistan, Samuel Azariah suggested that the latest developments seem part of an attempt by Muslim extremists to undermine the United States led war against terrorism in the region. "Whatever decision you take in the West, has an effect on the Christian community here," he told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) referring to growing violence against Christians.
MISSIONARY SCHOOL
Friday’s attack came after six Pakistanis were shot dead at a missionary school for foreigners in the town of Murree, also near Islamabad, four days earlier.
Reporters visiting the scene saw shattered glass and other debris on floor of the church at the hospital in Taxila, 40 kilometres (apr. 25 miles) west of the Pakistani capital.
"We had just finished the service and we are just coming out of the church," said hospital director Dr. Ashchenaz Lall. He added that the unidentified attackers "came inside and went towards the church and threw two grenades, which went off. There were ladies in front so most of the ladies they got hurt. "
TWO EXPLOSIONS
Witnesses to the chapel attack said they heard two explosions, the BBC reported. "We saw many women fall down," said Slomy Cissel, 28, who was hit by shrapnel as she came out of the church.
Pakistani minister for religious minorities, S. K. Tresslar, himself a Christian, told journalists that "it seems that it is being done by the same chain of terrorists" and that Pakistan was eager "to fight them all together." he said.
Shahbaz Bhatti, who heads the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, said the country’s Christians were paying the price of being allied with the West. "I think now it will be a complete genocide of the non-Muslims here if the Islamic militant forces are not checked," he told reporters.
ANTI TERROR WAR
Analysts say the cooperation has outraged Islamic militants in Pakistan who, officials believe, responded with stepped-up attacks on Christian and foreign targets in the country. They have killed dozens of people in the past few months.
An attack on the U.S. consulate in the southern city of Karachi and a suicide car bomb outside a hotel there are also blamed on Islamic militants. In all 26 people were killed in these incidents, including 11 French nationals.
On March 17 five were killed in Islamabad church grenade blast and in October 2001 – 18 were died in a Punjab church attack.
