3 Chinese Engineers Killed in Pakistan

Three Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver were killed on Wednesday when their car were attacked by gunmen on a road in the town of Hub, some 700 km southeast of Quetta, the Balochistan provincial capital, according to Chinese consulate officials.

Three other Chinese also in the car survived with no injury.

The Chinese consulate in Karachi confirmed that the three Chinese killed were from a cement making company in Hefei of east China's Anhui Province. The Chinese company prepares equipments and offers technical service for the construction of a local cement factory which will be accomplished in the first half of this year.

On Thursday morning, Chinese Ministry of Commerce has confirmed their names: Long Hongbao, Wei Jianpin and Zhao Bin

Chinese President Hu Jintao showed deep concern for the safety of the Chinese engineers in Pakistan after three Chinese were killed there by gunmen on Wednesday. Informed about the murder Wednesday evening, President Hu ordered Chinese Foreign Ministry, embassy and consulates to require Pakistan to catch the murderers, ensure the safety of the Chinese there and properly handle the aftermath.

Hu also extended condolence on the death of the victims and expressed sympathy to their families.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao made similar instructions, according to sources with the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing made an urgent phone call with his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Kasuri at 1:00 AM on Thursday.

Li required Pakistan to properly deal with the aftermath, catch the killers as soon as possible and make utmost efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel in Pakistan.

Kasuri asked Li to convey condolences from Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to Hu Jintao and from Prime Minister Shaukat Azizto Wen Jiabao on the death of Chinese engineers.

Kasuri also extended condolence on the casualties and expressed sympathy to the victims' families on behalf of the Pakistani government.

He told Li that Pakistani government will try its utmost efforts to catch the murderers and take every measure to ensure the safety of Chinese people there and properly treat with the aftermath.

Chinese diplomats in Karachi have led the other 11 Chinese engineers in the project into the Chinese consulate and helped take the victims' bodies back to Karachi, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM).

MOFCOM has triggered off emergency mechanism and forged task forces to cope with the issue and required the related Chinese companies to dispatch working groups to deal with the aftermath.

(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2006)

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Date : 2006-02-18
Killing of engineers to overshadow Musharraf visit to China
By Iqbal Hussain Khan Yousafzai – Reporting from Islamabad



Islamabad, 18 February, (Asiantribune.com): The killing of three Chinese Engineers in the restive province of Balochistan might overshadow the forthcoming visit of Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf to China.

Musharraf’s visit scheduled for February 19-23 will herald the events organized in connection with the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.

Just five days ahead of the state visit, three Chinese Engineers working at the Attock Cement Factory and their Pakistani driver were killed in an ambush in Hub, Balochistan on Wednesday. Three other Chinese Engineers accompanying them escaped unhurt.

The two attackers, who were riding a motorbike, managed to escape after the incident.

The management of the factory has decided to send the remaining Chinese engineers back to their country.

China has urged Pakistan to step up security of Chinese in Pakistan after the dastardly incident.

The President’s programme in China includes bilateral talks with President Hu Jintao and separate meetings with Premier Wen Jiabao, Chairman Standing Committee, National People’s Congress Wu Bangguo and Chairman of CPPCC Jia Qingin Qingling.

Defence Minister General Cao Gangchuan, Zhang Yunchuan Minister for State Commission of Science and Technology for National Defence will also call on the President.

Informed about the killings Wednesday evening, Chinese President Hu Jintao showed deep concern over the issue and ordered Chinese Foreign Ministry, embassy and consulates to require Pakistan to nab the murderers, ensure the safety of the Chinese there and properly handle the aftermath.

The President and the Chinese leadership will review multi-facetted bilateral relations, regional issues and other international developments of mutual interest.

Ahead of his visit President Pervez Musharraf expressed shock and deep regret of the government and people of Pakistan over the cold-blooded killing of the Chinese engineers.

Talking to the Chinese Ambassador, Zhang Chunxiang in Rawalpindi, President Musharraf said it was regrettable that such a heinous act had been committed against our best friends who are helping in the development of Pakistan. He assured the Chinese Ambassador that the culprits would not go unpunished and soon be detected and brought to justice.

In a message to Chinese President Hu Jintao, President Musharraf expressed deep shock on the loss of precious Chinese Engineers lives in the incident.

He said the government and the people of Pakistan share the pain of the Chinese people and in particular the sufferings of the member of the bereaved families.

In his message to his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Shaukat Azizi expressed shock over the killing of Chinese Engineers in a terrorist attack. He assured that all those behind this sinister terrorist act will be tracked and meted out the most severe punishment.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing made a phone call to his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mehmoud Kasuri on Thursday, and asked him to properly deal with the aftermath, arrest the killers as soon as possible and make utmost efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel in Pakistan.

Kasuri asked Li to convey condolences from Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to Hu Jintao and from Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to Wen Jiabao on the death of Chinese engineers.

Kasuri also extended condolence on the casualties and expressed sympathy to the victims' families on behalf of the Pakistani government.

He told Li that Pakistani government will try its utmost efforts to catch the murderers and take every measure to ensure the safety of Chinese people there and properly treat with the aftermath.

He said that immediate measures to strengthen the security of all Chinese nationals in Pakistan would be put in place.

- Asian Tribune -

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crazyinsane105 said:

May their souls rest in peace. There are a few countries that don't want to see Gwadar become a reality so they are resorting to these cowardy methods to intimidate Pakistan and China. However, we know that neither country will bow down to terrorism and intimadation. Long live the alliance between Pakistan and China!:china: (I would put a Pakistani flag up, but we don't have any).

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