BEIJING, Feb. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao showed deep concern for the safety of the Chinese engineers in Pakistan after three Chinese were killed there by gunmen on Wednesday.

Bodies of the Chinese workers are brought to a hospital after a shooting incident in the Pakistani town of Hub, near Karachi, February 15, 2006. [Xinhua]

    Informed about the murder Wednesday evening, Hu Jintao ordered Chinese Foreign Ministry, embassy and consulates to require Pakistan to catch the murderers, ensure the safety of the Chinese there and properly handle the aftermath.

    Hu also extended condolence on the death of the victims and expressed sympathy to their families.

    Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao made similar instructions, according to sources with the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

    Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing made an urgent phone call with his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Kasuri at 1:00 a.m. on Thursday.

    Li required Pakistan to properly deal with the aftermath, catch the killers as soon as possible and make utmost efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel in Pakistan.

    Kasuri asked Li to convey condolences from Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to Hu Jintao and from Prime Minister Shaukat Azizto Wen Jiabao on the death of Chinese engineers.

    Kasuri also extended condolence on the casualties and expressed sympathy to the victims' families on behalf of the Pakistani government.

    He told Li that Pakistani government will try its utmost efforts to catch the murderers and take every measure to ensure the safety of Chinese people there and properly treat with the aftermath.

    Three Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver were killed on Wednesday when their car were attacked by gunmen on a road in the town of Hub, some 700 km southeast of Quetta, the Balochistan provincial capital. Three other Chinese also in the car survived with no injury. Enditem