12 including 9 Chinese engineers killed in KP ‘attack’
Monitoring Desk :
At least 12 people including 9 Chinese engineers and two personnel of the Frontier Corps (FC) killed in an ‘attack’ near Dasu hydro powerplant in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa on Wednesday.
Initial reports from officials appeared conflicting; however, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan on the floor of the National Assembly termed it a “cowardly attack” and said that it would “not divert attention from the special initiatives between Pakistan and its neighbors”.
Condemning the attack, Awan said that he will ask Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to give a briefing on the country’s security situation and take this house into confidence regarding the incident.
Special Assistant to the KP Chief Minister on Information Kamran Khan Bangash said that the incident had claimed the lives of six Chinese nationals, two FC personnel, and two locals.
A high-level delegation has left for Upper Kohistan, he said in a statement, adding that officials will shortly inform the people and the media of the ground realities. “The media is advised to avoid speculating on the matter,” he said.
Bangash said that a large number of security officials were deployed to protect Chinese nationals. Those who are in critical condition are being shifted via helicopter, he said. A large number of Rescue 1122 ambulances and officials have reached the spot, he added.
Beijing asks Pakistan to investigate the incident
Meanwhile, China asked Pakistan to thoroughly investigate the incident.
Condemning the attack, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian urged Pakistan to “severely punish” the perpetrators“ and “earnestly protect the safety of Chinese nationals, organizations, and projects” in the country.
