ISLAMABAD, May 1: Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan on Saturday termed the news about the murder of seven innocent Pakistani illegal immigrants by the Macedonian police in March 2002 shocking revelations.

The Foreign Office spokesman said: "This was a hideous and condemnable crime in which innocent Pakistanis lost their precious lives."

"This crime is even more shocking and heinous because these murders were premeditated and were committed with impunity to spruce up Macedonia's image as an ally in the war against terrorism," Mr Khan said.

"It indeed was a diabolical plot. We commend the Macedonian government for making this revelations and initiating the legal and judicial process," he said.

Mr Khan said Pakistan's ambassador in Turkey, Sher Afghan Khan, who was accredited to Macedonia, was in touch with the authorities in Skopje.

"We will make all efforts to seek full justice for these innocent victims," he added.