PM Shehbaz Sharif visit Chinese embassy, vows to personally oversee investigation into Karachi incident

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong of personally overseeing investigation into am attack on a Chinese convoy in Karachi and promised to bring the culprits to justice.

Two Chinese nationals among three people were killed and 10 others injured in the attack near the Karachi airport late on Sunday night, according to the Pakistani officials and the Chinese embassy.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that Chinese nationals were targeted by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.

China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan, having pledged over US $65 billion in road, infrastructure and development projects in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, that aims to connect China to the Arabian Sea and help Islamabad expand and modernize its economy.

PM Sharif visited the Chinese embassy in Islamabad and held a meeting with Ambassador Jiang to extend his condolences over the death of the two Chinese nationals, according to the PM’s office.

“I will personally oversee the investigation into this incident,” Sharif said, expressing sorrow over the loss of Chinese lives in the attack. “After the identification of those responsible for the incident, they will be brought to justice.”

He said his government had fully mobilized resources to identify those behind this “act of terrorism,” adding that the protection of Chinese nationals was a “top priority” of Pakistan.

Sharif also assured the Chinese envoy of further strengthening security arrangements for Chinese nationals working in Pakistan.

The Chinese ambassador expressed confidence in the Pakistani government’s “effective investigation, prompt identification of the responsible terrorists, and their swift punishment,” according to a statement issued by Sharif’s office.

“We hope that those responsible for the incident will receive appropriate punishment as soon as possible,” Ambassador Jiang was quoted as saying.

The attack targeted a convoy of the Port Qasim Electric Power Company at around 11:00pm on Sunday night, according to the Chinese embassy. Two Chinese nationals were killed and one was injured.

The embassy said the Chinese side was working with Pakistani authorities in the aftermath.

“The Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in Pakistan remind Chinese citizens, enterprises and projects in Pakistan to be vigilant, pay close attention to the security situation, strengthen security measures, and make every effort to take safety precautions,” it said in a statement.