DATE=1/5/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243775
TITLE=PAKISTAN KILLING (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   PAKISTANI AUTHORITIES SAY THEY ARE SEARCHING FOR THE 
GUNMEN WHO OPENED FIRE INTO A MOSQUE MONDAY, KILLING 16 PEOPLE.  
AS SCOTT ANGER REPORTS, SECURITY HAS BEEN STEPPED UP IN THE 
PROVINCE WHERE THE SHOOTING TOOK PLACE, AS FAMILY MEMBERS BURY 
THE VICTIMS.

TEXT:   MOST OF THE VICTIMS FROM MONDAY'S SHOOTING HAVE BEEN 
BURIED NEAR THE MOSQUE AT KARAM-DAD QUERESHI, NEAR THE CITY OF 
MULTAN, WHERE THE ATTACK TOOK PLACE.  THE VICTIMS, ALL SHIITE 
MUSLIMS, WERE GUNNED DOWN AS THEY FINISHED MORNING PRAYERS 
MARKING THE BEGINNING OF THEIR DAY-LONG FAST DURING THE HOLY 
MONTH OF RAMADAN.

NO ONE HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE KILLINGS AND NO ARRESTS
HAVE BEEN MADE.  BUT PUNJAB POLICE OFFICIAL NAZIR AHMAD SAYS 
SECURITY HAS BEEN INCREASED AT AREA MOSQUES, AS A FULL 
INVESTIGATION GETS UNDER WAY.

                         ///AHMAD ACT///

         WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST TO ARREST THEM BUT, SO FAR, NO 
         ONE HAS BEEN CHASED OUT.  NOBODY KNOWS WHO DID THE 
         SHOOTING.  THEIR NAMES ARE NOT KNOWN -- THEY ARE 
         UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS.

                          ///END ACT///

ALTHOUGH POLICE DO NOT KNOW WHO DID THE SHOOTING, THEY FEAR THE 
ATTACK IS PART OF ONGOING SECTARIAN VIOLENCE BETWEEN RIVAL SHIITE
AND SUNNI MUSLIM GROUPS.  VIOLENCE BETWEEN MILITANT SECTIONS OF 
BOTH GROUPS HAS CLAIMED HUNDRED OF LIVES DURING THE PAST TWO 
YEARS.

SHIITES ARE A MINORITY IN THE MOSTLY SUNNI MUSLIM PAKISTAN.  
SHIITE PARTY LEADERS, SUCH AS SYED MOHAMMED TAQI, FEEL THE 
GOVERNMENT HAS NOT DONE ENOUGH TO CONTROL THE VIOLENCE.

/// TAQI ACT IN URDU - HOLD AND FADE ///

MR. TAQI SAYS THE PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES ARE NOT STRONG 
ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN PEACE. 

PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF HAS STRONGLY CONDEMNED THE KILLINGS 
AND VOWED TO FIGHT THE ONGOING VIOLENCE.  HE ESCAPED AN 
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT SUNDAY NEAR THE PUNJAB CAPITAL, LAHORE, 
WHEN A BOMB DESTROYED A BRIDGE HE WAS SCHEDULED TO CROSS  --  
KILLING THREE PEOPLE.  (SIGNED)

NEB/SA/GE



05-Jan-99 8:07 AM EST (1307 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.