Christian Charity Attacked in Pakistan

New Delhi (CNSNews.com) - Seven Pakistani men, all Christians, were killed Wednesday - tied up and shot at point-blank range - in a terrorist attack on a Christian charity in Karachi, Pakistan.

The attack, by gunmen still unknown, comes a week after Pakistan President Pervaz Musharraf said his security forces had broken the back of terrorist networks there.

Witnesses said two gunmen entered the third-floor offices of the Institute for Peace and Justice. "A man apparently armed with a pistol entered the offices of the Christian non-government organization Idare-e Amn-O-Insaf (Peace and Justice) and started shooting people," a senior police officer was quoted by media reports as saying.

Wire reports said six men died at the scene, and a seventh died later at the hospital.

The Christian institute has been working in Karachi for the past 30 years with local human rights groups to support the rights of poor and abused workers.

Police said the charity also published a magazine called "Jafakash" (Hard Worker). A recent issue reportedly focused on Pakistan's controversial blasphemy laws.

Police aren't sure who's behind the attack, but Islamic militant groups, upset about Pakistan's support for the U.S., are increasingly going after Christian and Western targets.

In recent months, they have attacked a Protestant International Church in Islamabad; the U.S. consulate; a delegation of French engineers; a Christian hospital; and school for the children of foreign missionaries.

Pakistani police also have aborted plots to attack U.S.-based restaurants - McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken - in Karachi.

Indian analysts feel believe Wednesday's attack on the Christian charity indicates the terrorists are changing their tactics, operating individually or in pairs instead of in a group.