CHINA / DIPLOMACY
Pakistan PM writes message of commitment at Chinese Embassy, swears to punish terrorists that killed 3 Chinese in attack
Published: Apr 27, 2022 03:50 AM
Photo: Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif writes a note at the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan on Tuesday to express condolences to the victims of the terrorist attack against a shuttle bus used by the Confucius Institute in Karachi
Photo: Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif writes a note at the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan on Tuesday to express condolences to the victims of the terrorist attack against a shuttle bus used by the Confucius Institute in Karachi

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad on Tuesday afternoon to express his condolences to the victims of a terrorist attack and wrote a message, vowing to do whatever it takes to bring the perpetrators to justice, according to a release from the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan.

The terrorist attack against a shuttle bus used by the Confucius Institute in Karachi, the country's largest city, took the life of three Chinese teachers and their local driver, and injured one Chinese teacher, read the release from the Embassy.

"We are deeply shocked and distressed at this dastardly attack on our Iron Brothers," read the note written by Sharif at the embassy, in which he reiterated that "we remain committed to eliminating all militarists and terrorists from Pakistani soil. We won't rest until the culprits are hunted down and given exemplary punishment."

Sharif said the Pakistani government, its people and himself were deeply shocked and saddened beyond words. The Prime Minister extend his deepest condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured on behalf of the Pakistani government and people.

The Pakistani government will fully cooperate with China in handling the aftermath of the incident, use all its resources to conduct an in-depth investigation into the incident as soon as possible, arrest the perpetrators at all costs and punish the perpetrators severely, the Prime Minister said.

The Pakistani government will keep the Chinese side informed of the progress of the investigation in a timely manner and take further measures to comprehensively strengthen the security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in the country.

Pakistan appreciates the Chinese government and people for supporting its economic and social development and will never allow any force to undermine the great friendship and cooperation between China and Pakistan, Sharif noted. 

Pakistan condemns all forms of terrorism and is willing to continue to carry out close cooperation with China in combating terrorism, Sharif added.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Planning Minister, Ahsan Iqbal, Interior Minister, Rana Sanaullah Khan, Information and Broadcasting Minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani and Foreign Secretary, Sohail Mahmood.

In a condolence letter sent to the embassy, Sharif described the attack as "cowardly and heinous."
 
"Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," Sharif said, highlighting that "the nefarious designs of the enemies of [the] Pakistan-China Strategic Cooperative Partnership will neither dent our Iron Brotherhood nor impact our cooperation."

The Chinese Embassy in Islamabad also condemned the terror attack and immediately launched its emergency response. 

The Chinese embassy asked Pakistan to thoroughly investigate the attack and severely punish the perpetrators. It also required relevant departments at all levels in Pakistan to make every effort to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions and projects in Pakistan and ensure that similar incidents do not happen again.

The embassy also reminded Chinese citizens, enterprises and projects in Pakistan to attach great importance to safety.