PM orders probe into terror attack

Islamabad, March 27: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday ordered a thorough joint investigation into the deadly terrorist attack on Chinese nationals, as Beijing pressed Islamabad to speed up the hunt for the perpetrators and take effective steps to protect Chinese personnel working in the country.

Five Chinese nationals were among six persons killed on Tuesday when an explosives-packed vehicle rammed into their bus in the troubled province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in the second suicide attack on the personnel working on the China-backed hydropower project since 2021.

The Chinese were working on the Dasu hydropower project, which is about 300 km to the north of Islamabad. The 4,320 MW project is being constructed by China Gezhouba with funding from the World Bank.

According to Radio Pakistan, Sharif gave the instructions for a joint investigation, while chairing an emergency meeting in Islamabad, a day after the Besham terrorist attack on Chinese nationals working on the Dasu Hydel Power Project.

The meeting was attended by the federal ministers, Army chief General Asim Munir, the chief ministers, the chief secretaries and the Inspectors General of Police of respective provinces.

The participants of the meeting discussed the heinous attack on innocent civilians working on a development project, meant to contribute to the energy and water security of Pakistan. Shehbaz offered deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the attack and assured them that the perpetrators of this barbaric act would be brought to justice swiftly.