Pakistan probe into church attack

Heightened measures have not prevented attacks

The Pakistani Government has set up a special task force to investigate the church attack in Islamabad, which has left five people dead.

The President, Pervez Musharraf, has also summoned the governors of the four provinces, police chiefs and other senior officials to Islamabad for a discussion on the situation.

No arrests have been made so far in the case.

Two of the victims were Americans, and in a sign of US concern, the Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Christina Rocca, has arrived in Islamabad to assess the situation.

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In addition to the two dead, 10 other US citizens were wounded when grenades were hurled at the congregation inside the church.

'Lax' arrangements

A man who lived in Islamabad for five years and attended services at the church many times told the BBC News Online that policemen at nearby check-posts never usually stopped anyone.

He said the doorman guarding the church entrance would not check anyone either.

He said well-dressed persons could enter the church without the risk of being stopped or searched.

Reports in the Pakistani press quote local police officials as saying policemen stopped frisking visitors some years ago after being told by church authorities that body searches were inappropriate for a church in the diplomatic enclave.

A Pakistani spokesman, condemning the attack, said the government was determined to continue with its campaign against terrorism.

He said a special task force of all the security agencies has been set up to investigate the attack.

High-profile visitors

Since her arrival in Islamabad, Ms Rocca has spent most of her time at the American embassy to assess the security situation.

Pakistan has pledged to crack down on militants

A spokesman for the US embassy said several Pakistani officials met Ms Rocca at the chancery.

Although no request has been made for a meeting with President Musharraf, the spokesman did not rule out the possibility.

Although people from eight different countries were hit in the grenade attack, Pakistani security officials believe the real target were American worshippers.

The attack has caused serious embarrassment for President Musharraf, who earlier this year promised a crack down on hardline Islamic groups.

However, in January, suspected Islamic militants kidnapped US journalist Daniel Pearl and the following month announced he had been killed.