ISLAMABAD (AP) _ Officials in Pakistan say gunmen killed two Pakistani Christian brothers accused of blasphemy against Islam as they left court on Monday.

The men were chained together when the attack took place in the eastern city of Faisalabad as they were being taken back into custody after their court appearance.

Pakistan’s minister for minority affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, says the brothers were arrested a month ago after leaflets allegedly bearing their names and featuring derogatory remarks against Muhammad were found. He says mosques in Faisalabad had called for the men to be attacked.

Bhatti says he suspects the men were falsely accused of blasphemy by people with a grudge against them, and adds that their families maintained their innocence.