HYDERABAD, Oct 31: Bishop S. K. Dass of Church of Pakistan Diocese of Hyderabad and Bishop Max. J. Rodrigues of Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad accompanied by other Protestant and Catholic leaders have said that they were first Pakistanis and then Christians and the loyalties of all the Christians were with Pakistan and not with the US or any other country.

Speaking at a joint news conference at the Hyderabad Press Club here on Wednesday, they condemned religious extremism and violence in the name of religion.

Bishop S. K. Dass said that the members of the Christian community were patriotic Pakistanis and they were serving in the army and other departments and engaged in the promotion of education like true Pakistanis.

He said that Christians have never ever quarrelled with anyone nor was any of its member involved in any crime. He said no religion in the world permitted the murder of an innocent person regardless of his religion.

He said the Christians not only condemned the murder of a Christian but also of a Hindu, a Muslim or any other person belonging to any other religion. He, however, regretted that innocent worshippers were mowed down in the house of God by terrorists in Bahawalpur.

He said all the people should live in peace and oppose all those organisations which were exploiting religion. He appreciated the efforts and action taken by President Gen Pervez Musharraf and his government and the government of Punjab in respect of the massacre of innocent Christians in Bahawalpur.

Bishop Max. J. Rodrigues complained that the Christians had been discriminated against by the introduction of separate electorate and added that the Christians wanted to live in peace and harmony with their Muslim brothers.

He said the reintroduction of joint electorate system was extremely necessary for national integration.

He said the Christians respected all religions and appealed to the government that all discriminatory laws which violated fundamental human rights should be repealed.

He appreciated the steps taken by President Musharraf for the security of the Christians following the massacre of innocent people in Bahawalpur.

A leader of the national alliance for joint electorate, S. Lal. Ahoja, said that the Hindu community condemned the massacre of innocent Christians in Bahawalpur.

He said this was the result of separate electorate system introduced by General Zia-ul-Haq.

He said that when the entire world was united against terrorism and religious extremism, there was no reason why separate electorate system should not be abolished.

Brother Philip Hira of National Commission of Justice and Peace Hyderabad, former MPA Saleem Khursheed Khokhar and other Christian leaders were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, in separate statements, Awami National Party leaders, Qamoos Gul Khattak, Haji Asmatullah Khan Mehsood, Sultan Khan Mandokhel and Aurangzeb Khan and the leaders of Municipal Workers Union, Hyderabad, Chundgi Lal and Muhammad Akram Rajput, have also condemned the attack on the Church in Bahawalpur and massacre of innocent worshippers. They have expressed heart felt condolences with the bereaved families.