'Hostile agency backed BLA in Oct 6 attack'

CTD submits initial report on attack on Chinese convoy to ATC

KARACHI:

In its initial report on last week's terror attack in Karachi, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed that the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) carried out the strike with the assistance of a hostile intelligence agency, aiming to "sour relations between Pakistan and China."

The CTD submitted the report to a special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Saturday. According to the report, an unidentified BLA terrorist drove a vehicle close to the convoy of Chinese nationals and detonated a bomb on the night of October 6.

The suicide bombing occurred near the exit signal of Jinnah International Terminal, in front of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guard room. Police arrived at the scene after the explosion and found several individuals, including police and Rangers personnel, injured.

The CTD report confirmed that three people, including two Chinese nationals, Li Jun and Sun Huazhen, lost their lives. Over 12 others, including Waqar, Ilyas, Naeem, Rano Khan, Azeem, Tariq, Ali, Hamza, and Sabih, were injured. The explosion completely destroyed 15 vehicles.

Following the attack, the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan issued a statement stating that the convoy carried Chinese staff from the Port Qasim Electric Power Company.

It requested a thorough investigation, severe punishment for the perpetrators, and enhanced measures to protect Chinese citizens, institutions, and projects in Pakistan.

In response, Islamabad condemned the terrorist attack, vowing that those responsible would not go "unpunished." Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad to express his condolences to Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong.

A case was later registered with the CTD under charges of murder, attempted murder, assault, the use of explosives, terrorism, and other related offenses.