ISLAMABAD, -- Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao told Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui here Saturday that two of the seven Chinese hostages taken by religious school students were released.

A Chinese couple, five of his women employees, and two Pakistani men were taken away from their residence in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, early Saturday morning by Lal Masjid students, according to reliable sources.

The rest of the Chinese hostages are now held in Jamia Hafsa, a religious school under Lal Masjid, the red mosque.

Earlier, in a telephone conversation with Luo, Sherpao said that he was very sorry for the unexpected incident.

He also told Luo that Pakistan will take all measures to ensure the safety and to get early release of all the Chinese hostages.

Luo told Xinhua that he requested the Pakistani government to take measures to ensure the safety of the Chinese hostages and all the other Chinese people in Pakistan.

A joint task force composed of Chinese embassy officials and Pakistani officials has been formed to get early release of the nine Chinese, Luo said.

In a separate phone conversation, Luo contacted Pakistan Muslim League (Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and asked to use his influence for the safety and early release of the Chinese hostages.