China today said that seven Chinese nationals, abducted by militant madrasa students in Pakistan last week for allegedly engaging in “un-Islamic” acts, had valid business licences.“As far as I know, they had licences for their business. They were running their business legally,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Qin Gang said in response to questions on the issue at a regular biweekly briefing.Qin did not deny or confirm the charge by madrasa students of Lal Masjid in Islamabad that the Chinese nationals were engaged in prostitution, under the cover of a massage parlour.Lal Masjid deputy Abdul Rashid Gazi said they had released the hostages because the Pakistan government had assured them that it would shut down all illegal massage parlours, and on account of the good relationship shared between China and Pakistan.Qin had said the Chinese government has paid great attention to the abduction of the seven Chinese nationals from a massage parlour in islamabad on Friday night.“Both the Foreign Ministry and the Embassy had requested the early release of the Chinese hostages and the safety of all Chinese in Pakistan,” he had said.Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao is in Beijing for talks on issues like counter-terrorism and security of Chinese nationals in Pakistan. He said his ministry would ensure the safety of Chinese nationals in Pakistan.
