Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, gave the Chinese government the assurance that he will personally supervise the inquiry into the terror incident near Karachi airport that claimed the lives of two Chinese nationals on Sunday night.
Three individuals were killed and at least eleven others, including a Chinese national, were injured in the big explosion that happened late on Sunday night.
Divergent accounts emerged on the origin of the blast: certain authorities classified it as an explosion caused by an improvised explosive device (IED), while others linked it to a car colliding with an oil tanker.
Multiple automobiles were seen completely destroyed by flames in the video footage taken at the scene, while the Bomb Disposal Squad attempted to identify the exact cause of the explosion.
In a statement, the outlawed Majeed Brigade of the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) took credit for the attack.
Two Chinese nationals were verified among the deceased and one injured by the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan.
In a meeting with Ambassador Jiang Zaidong at the Chinese Embassy, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences for the incident and pledged to bring the offenders quickly to justice.
"Those responsible for the incident will be brought to justice as soon as they are identified," PM Shehbaz promised. Our top goal is safeguarding the lives and belongings of our Chinese brothers who reside in Pakistan.
Declaring that "this heinous conspiracy to damage Pakistan-China relations will not be tolerated," he pledged to personally oversee the inquiry.
In order to stop similar tragedies in the future, the prime minister further promised that security measures for foreign nationals in Pakistan would be strengthened.
"We hope that those responsible for the incident will be punished as soon as possible," Ambassador Jiang Zaidong said, thanking the Pakistani government for its prompt response and expressing confidence in an efficient investigation.
PM Shehbaz condemned the incident, expressed astonishment and sorrow, and sent condolences to the relatives of the victims and the Chinese government in a previous statement on X, formerly Twitter.
In addition to emphasizing that the offenders "cannot be Pakistanis but are sworn enemies of Pakistan," Prime Minister Shehbaz promised to prosecute them.
In addition, he underlined Pakistan's dedication to protecting its Chinese allies, promising that "we will leave no stone unturned to ensure their security and well-being."
Law enforcement surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed has announced that the bodies of two Chinese nationals and one unidentified individual have been moved to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for autopsy.
Ten injured people were sent to JPMC, one of whom was in critical condition. After getting first aid, four were allowed to leave.
At least seven vehicles were consumed by the explosion-caused fire, although Rescue 1122 reported that the fire was under control.
Deputy Inspector General (East) Capt (retd) Azfar Mahesar indicated that it will take time to ascertain the precise cause of the explosion, contrary to Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar's early claim that it was caused by an IED bomb.
Lanjar further mentioned that at the time of the explosion, a convoy of foreign nationals was traveling through the region.
Following the event, the airport's exit and access points were promptly secured by the Airport Security Force, and traffic was diverted via alternate routes.
Flights from Karachi airport resumed as planned, according to the Civil Aviation Authority, while inquiries into the cause of the incident were still underway.
Days before important international events in Islamabad, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conference scheduled for October 15–16, the attack took place.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi noted that foreign delegations, including those from China and Saudi Arabia, were expected to visit Islamabad for the summit.
The Foreign Office (FO) strongly condemned the attack, vowing that Pakistan’s security agencies would “spare no effort in apprehending the perpetrators and their facilitators.”
The FO labeled the attack “an assault not only on Pakistan but also on the enduring friendship between Pakistan and China” and promised that the act would not go unpunished.
The Foreign Office stressed Pakistan's dedication to safeguarding Chinese nationals, projects, and establishments within the nation, characterizing the two countries' relationship as one of "mutual respect and shared destiny."
Along with denouncing the "terrorist attack" and calling for a thorough investigation, the Chinese Embassy also urged Pakistan to "severely punish the perpetrators" and improve security for Chinese nationals and projects.
The Chinese Embassy reminded Chinese nationals in Pakistan to remain vigilant and strengthen their security measures.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah convened a law-and-order meeting following the attack, stressing that such incidents were “intolerable” and calling for increased intelligence-gathering and coordination among law enforcement agencies.
A joint committee made up of police and other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) was formed under CM Murad's order to look into the attack.
Accompanied by other high-ranking security personnel, CM Murad paid his condolences later in the day at the Chinese consulate.
President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack, stating that “anti-national elements want to harm the development and prosperity of Pakistan,” and urged effective action to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed his grief over the deaths of Chinese nationals, declaring, “We express full solidarity with the families of the Chinese citizens in this moment of grief.”
Naqvi assured the Chinese ambassador that the investigation would be thorough and that those responsible would face justice, calling the attack a “cowardly conspiracy” to damage the Pak-China friendship.
The attack was "not on Chinese friends but on our strong determination," according to Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, who said on X that Pakistan was still committed to defending its Chinese relations.
Chief Minister of Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti conveyed his condolences for the unfortunate event, highlighting the close relationship between China and Pakistan as well as the significance of holding those accountable for their actions accountable.
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