Islamabad/Karachi (TDI): Terrorist attack in Karachi left at least two Chinese Personnel killed and one Chinese among a number of Pakistani personnel injured late night, Chinese embassy said Monday.
A press statement issued by the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan on Monday morning said, “At about 11 pm local time on October 6, the convoy of Port Qasim Power Generation Co., Ltd., a Chinese enterprise, suffered a terrorist attack near Karachi Jinnah International Airport. So far, two Chinese personnel have been killed, one Chinese has been injured and many Pakistani personnel have been injured.”
The Chinese embassy in Pakistan strongly condemns this terrorist act and expressed deep condolences to the victims of the two countries.
The Chinese Embassy and Consulate in Bazhong has immediately started emergency response work, asking the Pakistani side to treat the wounded, conduct a thorough investigation of the attack, severely punish the perpetrators, and take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions and projects in Bazhong, the embassy further said.
The statement also said that the Chinese embassy and consulate in Pakistan to remind Chinese citizens, enterprises and projects in Bazhong must be vigilant for security.
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The daily, Dawn, reported that at least three people were killed and 11 others, including a foreign national, were said to be injured when a massive explosion took place on a road outside the Karachi airport.
The report said that conflicting accounts emerged in the wake of the powerful explosion, which was heard across town with some officials calling it an “IED blast” and other said an explosion triggered after a vehicle collided with an oil tanker.
Footage of the scene of the explosion showed several vehicles amid flames and heavy smoke. Officials said the Bomb Disposal Squad was working to ascertain the nature of the blast.
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Initially officials were confused over nature of the blast, yet China confirmed that it was terrorist attack killing its workers.
Briefing reporters at the scene, Deputy Inspector General (East) Capt (retd) Azfar Mahesar confirmed that two people were killed in the explosion, which also destroyed seven vehicles. Nature of the blast yet to be ascertained, he said.
Local police confirmed three deaths in the incident, two were identified as Chinese personnel and identity of the third person will yet to be ascertained.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar told media that they had information the explosion was caused by an IED blast. The minister said that a convoy of foreign nationals was passing by the area when the explosion took place.
A proscribed organization, Majeed Brigade of the Baloch Liberation Army, has claimed responsibility for the attack, yet the claim could not be independently verified.
According to a report, the Pakistani injured were identified as police constable Waqar Ahmed, 28, Mohammed Ilyas, 35, Mohammed Naeem, 51, Ranu Khan, 35, Azeem Meer, 45, Mrs Tasleem Noor, 48, Ali Rafiq, 29, Hamza Ateeq, 28, and Sabeeh Mohiuddin, 30.
