Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken decisive action against four senior police officials for their “negligence” following an inquiry into a tragic incident. The attack, which occurred on March 26th, resulted in the deaths of five Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver. The incident took place in the Besham area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where a suicide bomber targeted the convoy of Chinese engineers en route to the Dasu Hydroelectric power station construction site in Kohistan district.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that Prime Minister Sharif has directed disciplinary action against key officials in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. This action comes after an inquiry committee submitted its report, highlighting lapses in security protocol that led to the attack.
“The prime minister has directed to take action against the regional police officer of Hazara Division, the district police officers of Upper Kohistan and Lower Kohistan, the director of security at Dasu Hydropower Project, and the commandant of the special security unit in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within 15 days,” stated Minister Tarar.
Tarar emphasized the seriousness with which Pakistan is addressing the security concerns of Chinese nationals working on various projects in the country. “We want peace in the region, but our desire should not be misconstrued as a weakness. We are taking the matter of the security of the Chinese very seriously,” he stated.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif personally overseeing the security of Chinese projects and engineers underscores the gravity of the situation. He recently directed all Pakistani security agencies to ensure foolproof security arrangements for Chinese nationals involved in different projects across Pakistan.
In response to the attack, China has also expressed concern and urged Pakistan to ensure the safety of their nationals working on joint projects, particularly under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Thousands of Chinese personnel are actively involved in various CPEC initiatives, highlighting the significance of robust security measures to safeguard their well-being.
The incident underscores the complexities and challenges in maintaining security in regions where international collaborations and large-scale projects are underway. The actions taken by the Pakistani government reflect a commitment to address security lapses and strengthen protection measures for foreign workers, especially those involved in vital infrastructure projects.
Sources By Agencies
