Islamabad, Nov 9 (IANS): Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has strongly condemned the killing of three doctor brothers belonging to the Hindu community and directed that the culprits be brought to book.

The prime minister spoke to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah about the "abhorrent murder" of Ajeet Kumar, Naresh Kumar and Ashok Kumar, reported Associated Press of Pakistan.

The brothers were gunned down in Shikarpur district Monday.

Gilani said some elements wanted to create unrest in the country, but vowed that their evil intentions and designs will be foiled by the government.

He said Pakistan Peoples Party was the upholder of the rights of the minorities and would continue to support their equal rights, without any discrimination.

According to an estimate, Hindus form about five percent of the country's population of 180 million.

President Asif Ali Zardari had Tuesday sought a report on the killing of the brothers.

He said it was the moral and legal responsibility of the government to protect members of the minority community.

This is not the first time that Hindus in Pakistan have come under attack.

Lakki Chand Garji, 82, who is the 'maharaja' of the Kali Mata Mandir in Kalat town in Balochistan province and considered to be one of Pakistan's most revered Hindu spiritual leaders, was kidnapped by a gang of armed men Dec 21 last year. He is yet to be traced and rescued.

Traders from the Hindu community have been targets of kidnapping gangs.

Rajesh Kumar, a trader, was going to work when armed men in a car intercepted him and tried to kidnap him in Feb 6. When he resisted, he was shot dead. As many as three Hindu traders have been killed so far during attempted kidnappings in and around Quetta during the past three years.

Ram Singh Sodho, who was elected to the Sindh assembly in 2008 on a Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) reserved seat for minorities, fled to India and sent in his resignation to assembly Speaker Nisar Ahmad Khoro.