'Hostile enemies' behind KU attack to sabotage CPEC, says Alvi in visit to Chinese embassy

Published April 30, 2022
President Dr Arif Alvi (L) meets Charge d’ Affaires Pang Chunxue at the Chinese Embassy on Saturday. — The President of Pakistan Twitter
President Dr Arif Alvi (L) meets Charge d’ Affaires Pang Chunxue at the Chinese Embassy on Saturday. — The President of Pakistan Twitter

President Arif Alvi on Saturday said the "hostile intent of our enemies" was behind the suicide attack that targeted Chinese instructors at Karachi University, which he said was a bid to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and harm the friendship between the two nations.

Three Chinese teachers and their Pakistani driver were killed in the attack, while four others were injured in a suicide blast that struck their vehicle as it approached the Confucius Institute in the university.

During a visit to the Chinese embassy today, the president condemned the incident and vowed the "hostile countries" behind it "would not succeed in their designs" as Pakistan and China enjoy a deep friendship and are strongly committed to further strengthen the "all-weather friendship", according to a statement issued by the President's Secretariat.

The president offered his condolences to the embassy officials, according to Chinese Cultural Counsellor Zhang Heqing.

He asked Charge d’ Affaires Pang Chunxue to convey his heartfelt condolences to the Chinese people, the Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping.

Alvi said the entire nation was in "deep pain and shock over the unfortunate incident" and shared in the grief of the Chinese people.

He reassured them that Pakistan would leave "no stone unturned" to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals and bring the elements involved in the incident to justice.

Pang thanked President Alvi for his visit and expression of solidarity with the Chinese people and government.

She said that "both countries have a shared future" and a long history of friendship and close cooperation. She condemned the attack and hoped that the "culprit behind this incident would be apprehended and punished," the statement said.

President Alvi later wrote remarks in the embassy's visitor's book.

The Chinese Embassy also released a message thanking Pakistani officials for the series of visits to condemn the attack and offer their support after the loss of China's nationals. "Together we will defeat terrorism and work for a shared future," it said.

Opinion

Editorial

Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...
Ties with Tehran
Updated 24 Apr, 2024

Ties with Tehran

Tomorrow, if ties between Washington and Beijing nosedive, and the US asks Pakistan to reconsider CPEC, will we comply?
Working together
24 Apr, 2024

Working together

PAKISTAN’S democracy seems adrift, and no one understands this better than our politicians. The system has gone...
Farmers’ anxiety
24 Apr, 2024

Farmers’ anxiety

WHEAT prices in Punjab have plummeted far below the minimum support price owing to a bumper harvest, reckless...