Initial probe into Dasu bus accident has confirmed 'traces of explosives': Fawad Chaudhry

Initial investigations into the Dasu bus incident which led to the deaths of 12 people, including three Chinese nationals, has confirmed "traces of explosives", Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said on Thursday.

"Terrorism cannot be ruled out," he added.

The information minister said that Prime Minister Imran Khan is "personally supervising all developments in this regard" and that the government is closely coordinating with the Chinese embassy.

"We are committed to fight the menace of terrorism together," he said.

In his weekly briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said that a "comprehensive" probe has been launched into the incident, adding that it is "also being investigated from the angle of terrorism".

Chaudhri said that "no possibility can be dismissed at this stage".

He added that close contact is being maintained with Chinese officials.

Bus plunges into ravine

Yesterday, a bus carrying Chinese workers in Khyber Pakhunkhwa's plunged into a ravine "after a mechanical failure resulting in leakage of gas that caused a blast", a statement from the Foreign Office said.

According to the statement, Chinese workers and accompanying Pakistani staff "were proceeding to their work place for an ongoing project".