Attack on Chinese engineers: PM orders action against police officials for ‘negligence’

LAHORE: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Saturday said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had ordered disciplinary action against senior police officers for “negligence” in the light of an inquiry report on the Shangla district attack that killed five Chinese nationals.

Addressing the media in Lahore, Tarar said the prime minister had constituted an inquiry committee on the March 26 attack on a vehicle carrying Chinese engineers to the Dasu Hydropower Project.

“The PM has directed to take action against the regional police officer (RPO) Hazara Division, district police officer of Upper Kohistan and Lower Kohistan, director security, Dasu Hydropower Project and commandant special security unit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within 15 days,” he said.

The inquiry committee was formed to probe the matter and identify the lapses in security protocol.

At least six people, including five Chinese engineers, working on the Dasu project were killed in the suicide attack that took place on the Karakoram Highway in the Bisham area, Shangla district.

They were travelling from Islamabad to the dam construction site in the Dasu area of the Upper Kohistan district.

Highlighting the swift response of the Pakistani authorities, Tarar said the prime minister immediately went to the Chinese Consulate after the incident and also personally visited the Dasu area to boost the morale of Chinese engineers.

“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 Chinese very seriously. PM Shehbaz is himself overseeing security of the Chinese projects and engineers,” he said, adding that the nation’s morale was high and they would not let anyone destroy peace.

Tarar said that good news would be coming during prime minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia. All the individuals in the entourage will bear their own expenses.