Khan: Attack a conspiracy against China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

KARACHI: KARACHI: Security forces on Friday foiled a terrorist attack on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi, which left two policemen, a guard and two civilians dead, police said. All three attackers were killed in the exchange of gunfire.
Chinese Consulate staff remained unhurt in the attack — claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) — which Prime Minister Imran Khan called “a conspiracy against the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).”
“The terrorists couldn’t enter the main building due to timely action by law enforcement agencies,” Dr. Amir Ahmed Sheikh said.
The BLA, a separatist militant organization of Balochistan, posted photos of the attackers on Twitter shortly before it was suspended by the microblogging website. A police officer who was part of the operation inside the consulate confirmed to Arab News that the photos were those of the attackers.
The police chief also confirmed that one of the attackers had been identified.
“We have identified one of the attackers named Abdul Raziq, who is an employee of the agricultural department and resident of the Kharan district in Balochistan,” Sheikh told Arab News.
Dr. Seemi Jamali of Jinnah Hospital, Karachi said that the police officers were identified as Assistant Sub Inspector Ashraf Dawood and Constable Amir.
“The body of one private guard, identified as Muhammad Juman, has also been brought to the hospital,” she told Arab News. She said that two civilians, Zahir Shah and Abdul Karim, were also killed in the attack.
Consulate staff were unhurt, Salman Waheed, a police official, told Arab News. “We have found explosives and several hand grenades, and a further search is underway.”
Speaking to the media, the inspector general of the Sindh police, Kaleem Imam, said that the attackers had come fully prepared but that “brave policemen foailed them in their heinous plan.”
After the attack, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, flanked by heads of the police and Rangers, called on the Chinese consul general. The police chief then briefed the “Chinese consul general about the successful combined operation by security forces.” The chief minister praised Assistant Superintendent of Police Sohai Aziz for bravely responding to the attack, which prevented the attackers from entering the main building.
Prime Minister Imran Khan strongly condemned the attack.
“The prime minister has ordered a complete inquiry into the incident and has desired that elements behind this incident must be unearthed. The incident is part of conspiracy against Pakistan and China’s economic and strategic cooperation,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
“The Karachi police and Rangers have shown exceptional courage and the nation salutes the martyrs and their colleagues for acting so vigilantly; their gallantry is something we are proud of,” the statement said.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry also took to Twitter and said: “Security institutions saved Karachi from a big conspiracy today.” He vowed that the government would investigate the incident.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also condemned the attack.
He said that the terrorists involved in the incident were killed. “We are in contact with the Chinese consul general,” he said.
Qureshi said Pakistan, along with China, would defeat the forces hampering economic development in Pakistan.

Khan: Attack a conspiracy against China-Pakistan Economic Corridor