Minister for Foreign Affairs Khurshid Mehmud Kasuri expressed shock and grief over the murder of two Pakistanis in Iraq here in National Assembly on Thursday.
In a statement in National Assembly the minister said, "The government and people of Pakistan heard the tragic news from Iraq with deep sorrow and anguish."
It is indeed sad that despite a unanimous resolution in the National Assembly and appeals from the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Iraqi captors of two Pakistani hostages Raja Azad Khan and Sajjad Naeem did not heed to the appeal and went ahead with killing two innocent Muslims from Pakistan who were there as workers and bread winners for their families and had no political agenda.
Foreign minister by reading out a statement in the National Assembly expressed heartfelt condolences with the bereaved families and prayed to Almighty Allah that the departed souls may rest in peace.
The foreign office had issued a travel advisory asking the Pakistanis not to go to Iraq under the grave security situations, as peace is not stabilised there.
Ministry of foreign affairs had also issued an appeal by the Ulema Council of Iraq through Pakistan Embassy in Iraq. Appeal made on television was widely telecast in the countries of the region including Iraq.
Minister for foreign affairs said that he and foreign office spokesman emphasised it explicitly that Pakistan had taken no decision to send troops to Iraq. It is indeed very sad that despite these appeals and statements, the captors decided to go for the gruesome murder of the two innocent Pakistanis.
He assured the House that ministry of foreign affairs is directly in touch with Pakistani Embassy in Iraq and with the Iraqi Embassy in Pakistan for recovery of the bodies of the deceased.
Foreign office is also making efforts by constantly in contact with Ulema Council of Iraq for this purpose, so that the deceased are buried according to Islamic rites.