An update on the seven Chinese citizens kidnapped from a massage parlor in Islamabad, from Financial Times:
Hardline Pakistani Islamists at the weekend released six Chinese female hostages and one man, ending a 17-hour crisis that highlighted a fresh challenge to the regime of pro-US military ruler General Pervez Musharraf.
The kidnappings on Friday night from a massage parlour in an upmarket neighbourhood of Islamabad was part of a crusade by Islamists in the capital, targeting what they consider immoral activities. The Islamists claimed the massage parlour was in fact a brothel.
The incident threatened to dent Pakistan’s relations with China, its closest ally, and the Islamists later claimed to have freed the captives to preserve bilateral relations with Beijing. [Full Text]
Read also the People’s Daily report on the release which, as the China Post points out, doesn’t mention the brothel claims.
