ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered immediate action against at least five senior police officials of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police for negligence after a suicide bombing that left five Chinese engineers dead.
At least five Chinese nationals and their local driver were killed when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into their convoy in the Besham area of Shangla district of KP as they were traveling to the Chinese-funded Dasu hydropower project under construction in Kohistan district.
Both the Dasu and Diamer Bhasha dam construction sites, situated approximately 100 km (62 miles) apart in a mountainous region, employ hundreds of Chinese workers.
According to the country’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, a committee, appointed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, had identified a regional official, three district officials, and the director of security at the Dasu dam project for their negligence. Their actions, or lack thereof, in fulfilling their duties were deemed culpable.
Tarar emphasized the Prime Minister’s commitment to overseeing the security of Chinese nationals personally and warned that negligence would not be tolerated. While specific punishments were not disclosed, Tarar assured that swift action would be taken against the implicated officials.
In the aftermath of the incident, operations by Power China have resumed at Diamer Bhasha, whereas those at China Gezhouba Group Company at Dasu remain suspended.
Following the bombing, Pakistani authorities have detained over a dozen individuals, including Afghan nationals, suspected to be linked to the attack.
The bond between Beijing and Islamabad remains strong, with China being a vital regional ally and providing significant financial support to Pakistan. However, there have been persistent grievances among Pakistanis regarding the equitable distribution of jobs and wealth generated by Chinese-funded projects.
Security concerns surrounding Chinese workers persist, with militants hostile to foreign influence often targeting them. Just prior to this attack, militants attempted to breach the offices of the Gwadar deepwater port, a key Chinese investment in southwest Pakistan.
