SHANGLA: A suicide attack killed six people including a woman among five Chinese engineers in the Besham city of Shangla on Tuesday, said Malakand's deputy inspector general of police (DIG).
The DIG said that the incident took place when the a suicide bomber rammed their vehicle filled with explosives into the car of the Chinese nationals.
He said that the driver of the car sustained injuries in the attack and has been moved to a local hospital.
Later, the driver succumbed to his wounds during treatment.
The official added that the Chinese nationals were engineers who were going to Dasu camp from Islamabad.
Meanwhile, a heavy contingent of security personnel arrived at the incident’s site and cordoned off the area. Security forces have launched a search operation in the area for the suspects.Taking notice of the incident, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the Chinese embasy in Islamabad and extended condolences to the Chinese ambassador over the unfortunate incident.
"I and the entire nation empathise with the Chinese citizens," he said on the occassion.
Earlier, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also visited the embasy informed the Chinese ambassador about the details of the attack and deaths of Chinese engineers.
He also shared the details of ongoing rescue operation on the site of attack.
"The entire Pakistani nation equally shares the grief of their Chinese brothers in this time of sorrow," Naqvi said, pledging to deal with the elements involved in the attack with iron fists.
He said that the attack on Pakistan-China brotherly ties is not acceptable.
"We will not let the bilateral relations get affected," he added.
Reacting to the incident, President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the attack and expressed grief over the loss of lives.
"Anti-Pakistan forces will not succeed in harming Pakistan-China friendship ever," a statement released by official account of President of Pakistan on X, Twitter, quoted Zardari.
Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister (CM) Haji Gulber Khan also condemned the attack and expressed grief over the loss of lives.
"Attack on chinese citizens is a conspiracy to ruin Pakistan-China friendship," he added.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari condemned the act of terrorims and deaths of Chinese citizens.
A statement issued by PPP's media cell on X, formerly Twitter, said that Bilawal extended condolences to the Chinese government and called of the Pakistani authorities to expose and punish the perpetrators and facilitators of the attack.
He also expressed solidarity with the families of the deceased.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Ali Amin Gandapur, KP Governor Ghulam Ali, Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman, Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah, Awami National Party (ANP) KP President Aimal Wali Khan and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab also condemned the attack.
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