Karachi:
At least one Chinese national was wounded in a gun attack in the southern Pakistani megacity of Karachi Wednesday, police mentioned, in the most up-to-date assault targeting Chinese citizens in the nation.
Local police mentioned two masked assailants riding on a motorbike fired at a automobile carrying two Chinese nationals, who have been working at a nearby factory in the city.
One of the passengers sustained an injury to his arm in that attack.
“He is stable as fortunately he was not hit on any vital part of his body,” Javed Akbar Riaz, the police chief of Karachi’s southern district, told AFP.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian also confirmed the incident.
“China is following this matter closely and the relevant case is still under investigation,” mentioned Zhao.
“This incident is an isolated case. We are fully confident that the Pakistani side will ensure the safety of Chinese nationals and assets in Pakistan,” he added.
The shooting comes just weeks immediately after nine Chinese nationals have been killed in northwest Pakistan when their bus carrying a group of engineers, surveyors and mechanical employees to a nearby dam website was targeted in a bombing.
The safety of Chinese workers has lengthy been an problem of concern in Pakistan. Large numbers of them are based in the nation to supervise and construct infrastructure projects.
Pakistani officials have continued to present only vague specifics about the nature of the attack on the dam workers.
However Beijing has been increasingly more explicit about the blast with a current report in Chinese state media suggesting the assault was carried out by Uyghur militants or the Pakistani Taliban.
No group has claimed duty for the bombing.
Islamabad is Beijing’s closest regional ally, with China pouring billions of dollars into Pakistan in current years to increase the nation’s infrastructure.
But Chinese-funded projects have sparked resentment, especially amongst separatist groups, who say locals see small advantage, with most jobs going to outsiders.
In April a suicide blast at a luxury hotel hosting the Chinese ambassador in southwest Balochistan province killed 4 people today and wounded dozens. The ambassador was unhurt.
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