KARACHI: At least one person sustained minor injuries in a remote-controlled explosion targeting a Chinese engineer in Karachi's Gulshan-i-Hadeed area on Monday, police said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rao Anwar said a pamphlet written in Sindhi and bearing the name of a group called 'Sindhudesh Revolutionary Party' was recovered from the site of the blast. The pamphlet denounced "foreign control over Sindh's natural resources".

The pamphlet read [Translation]: "We consider China, rising as a global power, to be an ally of Pakistan, and also consider it an accomplice of the Punjabi Establishment in making Sindh slave to loot its resources, and therefore we accept the responsibility of bomb attack on Chinese in Gulshan-i-Hadeed."

"We want to make it clear to China that we will oppose every anti-Sindh project including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)," it further said.

A closer view of the damaged vehicle. ─ DawnNews
A closer view of the damaged vehicle. ─ DawnNews

The injured was a driver for a Chinese engineer who was residing in the area and traveling on the National Highway heading towards Port Qasim from Gulshan-i-Hadeed without security. The Chinese national was safe, said SSP Rao.

The pamphlet recovered from the site of the blast. ─ DawnNews
The pamphlet recovered from the site of the blast. ─ DawnNews

Police cordoned off the area and collected evidence from the scene for investigation. Five hundred grams of explosives were used in the improvised explosive device (IED), which included nuts and bolts.

Witnesses from a truck nearby reported seeing a suspicious item in the green belt of the road, which exploded as the black vehicle carrying the Chinese engineer passed by.

According to DIG East Zone Dr Kamran Fazal, the roadside bomb was planted opposite Quaid-i-Azam Park along National Highway.

Gulshan-i-Hadeed is a neighbourhood in Karachi's Bin Qasim Town. The town is situated near Pakistan Steel Mills and houses its workers.

Hundreds of Chinese workers are currently working all over Pakistan on various development projects, including the CPEC and the Thar coal power project.

In Aug 2015, the Sindh police claimed to have chalked out a comprehensive security plan for Chinese nationals and professionals visiting Karachi and other parts of the province for CPEC-related projects. Nearly six months ago, for 111 Chinese projects, the Sindh police were ensuring security to more than 1,500 nationals of the neighbouring country.

A view of the vehicle's interior. ─ DawnNews
A view of the vehicle's interior. ─ DawnNews

The main responsibility for securing the corridor, vital to Pakistan's long-term prosperity, lies with a new army division established in the last few months and numbering an estimated 13,000 troops.

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Inspector General (IG) Sindh AD Khawaja took notice of the incident and called for an investigation.

Opinion

First line of defence

First line of defence

Pakistan’s foreign service has long needed reform to be able to adapt to global changes and leverage opportunities in a more multipolar world.

Editorial

Eid amidst crises
Updated 31 Mar, 2025

Eid amidst crises

Until the Muslim world takes practical steps to end these atrocities, these besieged populations will see no joy.
Women’s rights
31 Mar, 2025

Women’s rights

PAKISTAN’S legal system has issued some important rulings in recent days concerning women, which deserve more...
Not helping
31 Mar, 2025

Not helping

THE continued detention of Baloch Yakjehti Committee leaders — including Dr Mahrang Baloch in Quetta and Sammi ...
Hard habits
Updated 30 Mar, 2025

Hard habits

Their job is to ensure that social pressures do not build to the point where problems like militancy and terrorism become a national headache.
Dreams of gold
30 Mar, 2025

Dreams of gold

PROSPECTS of the Reko Diq project taking off soon seem to have brightened lately following the completion of the...
No invitation
30 Mar, 2025

No invitation

FOR all of Pakistan’s hockey struggles, including their failure to qualify for the Olympics and World Cup as well...