BEIJING, June 27: China called on Pakistan to step up its protection of Chinese workers in the South Asian country, state press reported on Wednesday, following the brief kidnapping of seven Chinese people in Islamabad.

One male and six female Chinese, as well as two Pakistanis, were kidnapped from the acupuncture clinic where they worked in the early hours of Saturday by students from a seminary, before being released later in the day. The seminary students alleged that the clinic was being used as a brothel.

China’s Public Security Minister Zhou Yongkang on Tuesday called on Pakistan to take further measures to ensure the security of Chinese workers and property, according to the Xinhua report.

“We hope Pakistan will look into the terrorist attacks at Chinese people and organisations as soon as possible and severely punish the criminals,” Zhou told visiting Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao.

In response, Mr Sherpao said Pakistan would take more rigorous action to safeguard the security of Chinese people and organisations in Pakistan, Xinhua added.

China has refused to comment on allegations the kidnapped workers were involved in prostitution.—AFP