June 22, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 17, 1429

PESHAWAR, June 21: About 20 members of the Christian community were kidnapped and scores of others were beaten up by armed men who attacked them at a function here on Saturday night.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers came in five land cruisers and pick-up trucks and were sporting beards with long hair.

They said that the attackers also threatened them of carrying out such like attacks in future if the “Christian population does not mend its ways.”

The incident created panic in Banaras Abad, a sub-urban locality home to around 350 Christian families here at Academy Town.

The attackers did not give any reason for their act.

They attacked the gathering organised at the residence of one of the members, Salamat Masih, in connection with a charity dinner.

One of the witnesses said that while they were busy saying prayer all of a sudden some pick-up trucks stopped there and dozens of armed men attacked them.