PM vows punishment for shooting culprit

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday visited the Chinese embassy to condemn a firing incident, in Karachi, in which Chinese nationals were injured and assured exemplary punishment to those involved in the incident.

On Tuesday, two Chinese nationals were shot at and wounded by a private security guard in a textile mill in Karachi's SITE area in what investigators suspected as a targeted attack.

Talking to Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong, the prime minister said that he came to condemn Tuesday's attack on the Chinese nationals and to inquire after the health of those injured in the incident.

The prime minister assured the Chinese ambassador that those responsible in the incident would be apprehended soon and would be awarded exemplary punishment, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

He further informed the Chinese ambassador that he was personally supervising the process of arresting those involved in the incident and bringing them to justice.

Moreover, he had directed to provide the best medical facilities to the Chinese citizens injured in the incident, he said, adding that it was a matter of satisfaction that the health of the injured Chinese nationals was improving.

Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Interior Mohsin Raza Naqvi and Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi accompanied the prime minister.

Prime Minister Sharif said that China was a long-standing friend of Pakistan and the attack on the Chinese nationals was a desperate attempt to damage Pakistan-China fraternal relations.

He reiterated that he security of Chinese nationals, working in Pakistan, was the top priority of the government.

The Chinese ambassador thanked the prime minister for his visit and hoped that he would play his role in bringing those responsible for the incident to justice soon.

In a statement issued, the Foreign Office had said that the firing incident in Karachi was under investigation and Pakistan remained resolute in bringing to justice the responsible individual.

"We extend our sympathies to the families of the injured and offer prayers for their swift recovery," said FO spokesperson.