The vehicle carrying Chinese engineers that was targeted in Besham was not properly secured against such an attack, a report, sent by police to the Federal Government, revealed on Sunday.
The report, forwarded to the federal government, reveals details of the tragic incident involving a bus targeted in an attack on the Karakoram Highway. The bus, positioned approximately 15 feet from another vehicle, plunged into a 300-feet-deep ditch after a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden vehicle. Notably, the buses in the convoy, transporting Chinese nationals, were equipped with closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV).
This update follows Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directive, as conveyed by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, to take disciplinary action against senior police officers for perceived negligence in handling the March 26 attack. The incident resulted in the loss of five Chinese citizens, including a woman, and a Pakistani driver.
The PM instructed action against the regional police officer (RPO) of Hazara Division, district police officers of Upper Kohistan and Lower Kohistan, director of security at the Dasu Hydropower Project, and the commandant of the special security unit in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within a 15-day timeframe.
Additionally, the report notes that authorities have collected parts of the attacker’s vehicle used in the assault on the Chinese convoy. The incident site is located approximately six and 77 kilometers away from the Bisham police station and the Dassu dam, respectively.
Earlier this week, Geo News, citing sources, reported the apprehension of over 10 terrorists and facilitators involved in the attack by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). Among those detained is the terrorist commander responsible for bringing the suicide bomber from Afghanistan into Pakistan, along with four other facilitators.
The swift response from the country’s civil and military leadership underscores the determination to bring the perpetrators of this heinous act to justice. PM Shehbaz has emphasized the importance of providing foolproof security to Chinese nationals in Pakistan, directing the concerned authorities to implement a comprehensive action plan for regular audits of security standard operating procedures.
