KARACHI – Security forces on Friday foiled a planned terror attack on Chinese Consulate in Karachi by killing all the three attackers.
Two policemen and two other perons who identified as father and son were also martyred in the attack that happened around at 9:30 am in Clifton Block 4, an area of the metropolitan, where offices of other foreign countries are also present. The police have already declared the area red zone.
All staff of the consulate, comprising around 25 people, remained safe in the attack as Rangers and police foiled the terror bid successfully.
Three armed men, who were on a vehicle, hurled hand grenades in the area and it followed by firing, targeting the security officials deployed at the Chinese consulate.
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The cross-firing between the assailants and the security official was continued for some time when heavy contingent comprising Rangers and police covered the area quickly responding to the situation.
DIG South, Karachi, Javed Alam Odhu said that two policemen named Ashraf and Mohammad Khalid were martyred and a person injured in the attack.
The policemen lost their lives when a terrorist blew himself up amid the attack.
Karachi Police chief Ameer Sheikh said that all the three attackers were also killed in the retaliatory firing, adding that suicide jackets and other weapons recovered from the terrorists. He also confirmed that the attackers could not enter the consulate.
The security official also neutralised explosive material recovered from a suspicious vehicle found from the place of the incident.
An operation has been launched to clear the area and consulate, while Pakistan Army commandos have also been called.
The bodies and injured have been shifted to the hospital.
Pictures circulating on media shows the plumes of smoke from the scene.
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Sindh Govt Response
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has made a telephonic contact to AIG Karachi and directed him to send more force on the spot. The CM has further asked the officials to ensure the safety of the consulate staff.
After the situation was brought under control, the chief minister visited the consulate and held a meeting with the counsel general inside the compound.
Governor Sindh Imran Ismail has also taken notice of the incident and has sought a report from IG Sindh in this regard.
BLA Claims Responsibility
Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has reportedly claimed the responsibility for the attack.
The terrorist group has been involved in several activities to hinder the implementation of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, a mega economic deal between two countries.
India has also been jealous of the economic deal between Islamabad and Beijing. Few years ago, security forces had arrested an Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav involved in anti-Pakistan activities.
Jadhav, who was awarded death sentence by a military court, has confessed to providing funds to the BLA.
Attack on Pak-China Friendship
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has termed the foiled terror bid an attack on the exemplary Pakistan-China friendship.
He said that it was a coward attack, adding that the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan has expressed satisfaction over the action conducted by Pakistani security officials against the terrorists.
Such elements cannot damage the friendship between both countries, he said, adding that Pakistan and China will defeat such forces together.
