KU attack bid to derail CPEC: Alvi

President Dr Arif Alvi on Saturday blamed the Karachi University suicide attack in which three Chinese teachers were killed on hostile countries, saying that they wanted to harm the friendship between the two countries and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Four people, including three Chinese teachers and a Pakistani driver, were killed in a suicide attack carried out by a burqa-clad woman outside the Confucius Institute in Karachi University on Tuesday.

“The hostile countries will not succeed in their nefarious designs as both the countries enjoy deep-rooted ties and are strongly committed to strengthening their all-weather friendship,” President Alvi said in a meeting with Charge d’ Affaires Pang Chunxue.

Other officials of the Chinese Embassy were also present on the occasion.

President Dr Arif Alvi offered his “heartfelt” condolences over the incident.

The president said that the entire Pakistani nation was in “deep pain and shock” over the unfortunate incident and shared the grief of the Chinese brothers and sisters.

He reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to leave no stone unturned in ensuring the safety of Chinese nationals in the country and bringing to justice the elements involved in the heinous attack.

Read more: Alleged ‘facilitator of KU attack arrested’

He asked the charge d’ affaires to convey his heartfelt condolences to the Chinese people, Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping.

The charge d’ affaires thanked the president for visiting the embassy and for expressing solidarity with the people and government of China.

Chunxue said, “Both the countries have a long history of friendship and close cooperation.”

She condemned the attack, hoping that the culprits behind this incident would be apprehended and punished.

During the visit, the president also wrote his remarks in the visitor’s book.

Also read: Female suicide bomber kills 3 Chinese nationals at KU

Later, while talking to media, the president said that friendship between the two countries was enshrined in the brotherly relations of the citizens of Pakistan and China.

He opined that losing three Chinese brothers in the Karachi attack was like losing relatives in Pakistan.

The president stressed the need for destroying nefarious terrorist designs aimed at discouraging China from helping Pakistan and expansion of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

“Pakistan had been very successful in defeating such designs but then the Karachi terrorist attack took place, which is very painful,” he said, assuring that the culprits involved in the attack would be brought to justice.

He also assured improved security of Chinese nationals in Pakistan. (With additional input from APP)