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Pakistan says explosion at luxury hotel in Quetta was 'suicide attack'

A truck transports damaged vehicles from the Serena hotel, which was hosting the Chinese ambassador, a day after a deadly suicide blast in Quetta, Pakistan, on April 22, 2021. (AFP photo)
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Updated 23 April 2021
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Pakistan says explosion at luxury hotel in Quetta was 'suicide attack'

  • The suicide bomber used 60 to 80 kilograms of explosive in the attack that killed five people and injured eleven, says the interior minister
  • Sheikh Rashid Ahmed says the Chinese ambassador was not present at the hotel when the attack took place
Updated 23 April 2021
Aamir Saeed

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Thursday a blast that took place in the country's southwestern city of Quetta on Wednesday night was a suicide attack that killed five people including the bomber and injured eleven others.

The explosion took place in the parking lot of the Serena Hotel while the Chinese ambassador was also in Quetta, though he was not present at the facility at the time of the blast.

"It was a suicide attack. The bomber detonated his vest from inside the car," the minister said. "Around 60 to 80 kilograms of explosive was used in the attack."




A Pakistani comforts to another mourning over the death of his family member in a bomb blast, at a hospital in Quetta, Pakistan, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. (AP)

The minister said a forensic investigation into the attack was underway and the bomber was yet to be identified.

"The Chinese ambassador was not at the hotel [at the time of the attack]," he said. "He was staying somewhere else and is safe."

The minister added the Chinese ambassador was in the city for the last several days and was still busy in his routine activities.

"China is a time-tested friend of Pakistan," he said. "The actual purpose of the attack was to destroy peace in Pakistan."

Quetta is the capital of the mineral rich Balochistan province bordering Iran and Afghanistan, long the scene of a low-level insurgency by local nationalists who want a larger share of the region's resources.

The province, Pakistan's largest but most impoverished, is also home to the newly expanded Gwadar deep-water port, a flagship of China's $65 billion investment in the Pakistani section of its Belt and Road Initiative.

The interior minister said that all 22 law enforcement institutions under the ministry were directed to be on high alert.

"We remain committed to the idea of defeating terrorists and foreign elements who want to destabilize Pakistan from within," he said.

Ahmed said that six of the injured had been discharged from hospitals in Quetta while only "one or two" of those hospitalized were in critical condition.

Wednesday's blast took place at the well-fortified Serena Hotel situated next to the Iranian Consulate and the provincial parliament building.

Dr. Waseem Baig, a spokesperson at the civil hospital in Quetta, told Arab News five people had been killed in the hotel bombing.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group fighting to overthrow the government, claimed the attack and said it was carried out by a suicide bomber "on high officials, including police officers," adding that the assault showed the strong leadership and intelligence capabilities of the group.

Designated a terrorist group by the United States, the TTP has been in disarray in recent years, especially after several of its top leaders were killed by US drone strikes on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, forcing its members into shelter in Afghanistan, or fleeing to urban Pakistan.

Earlier, Zia Ullah Langau, home minister Balochistan, declined to confirm if the Chinese ambassador was the target of the assault, saying investigations were ongoing.

"The Chinese ambassador is in Quetta, and I have just met him," he told reporters. "His spirit was high, and he has said he will continue his activities, the activities he has tomorrow [Thursday] morning."

China said Thursday it "strongly condemns" the Wednesday night bombing, which it described as a "terrorist attack." Beijing's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin was quoted by AFP as saying the Chinese delegation was not present when the explosion occurred.

Chairman of Pakistan's CPEC Authority Asim Saleem Bajwa said in a Twitter post on Thursday that the hotel bombing was "a grim reminder of hostile attempts to disrupt Pakistan's economic growth."

"Make no mistake, we have the will and resilience to continue our path to development and prosperity," he wrote. "We will chase and eliminate whatever malice comes our way."

Replying to reporters' questions about how the attacker managed to reach the parking lot of the hotel despite strict security measures, Deputy Inspector General Quetta, Azhar Akram, said: "Our security was high alert, and we are assessing all aspects."

A statement from Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan's office said the PM had condemned the incident and ordered the federal interior ministry to investigate it.

Khan wrote on Twitter: "I am deeply saddened by the loss of innocent lives in the condemnable & cowardly terrorist attack in Quetta yesterday. Our nation has made great sacrifices in defeating terrorism & we will not allow this scourge to rise again. We remain alert to all internal & external threats."

 

Topics: Quetta Blast Pakistan

Pakistani province launches helicopter service to evacuate people, dispatch aid to clashes-hit district

Updated 5 sec ago
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Pakistani province launches helicopter service to evacuate people, dispatch aid to clashes-hit district

  • Clashes between Sunni, Shia tribes have killed over 100 people in Kurram since last month
  • On Friday, authorities set a deadline of Feb. 1 for the warring tribes to surrender weapons
Updated 5 sec ago
REHMAT MEHSUD

PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province has launched a helicopter service to evacuate people and transport aid to Kurram district that has been hit by sectarian clashes in recent weeks, officials said on Sunday.

Kurram, a tribal district of around 600,000 near Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan where federal and provincial authorities have traditionally exerted limited control, has been a flashpoint for sectarian tensions between Shia and Sunni tribes for decades.

Fresh clashes that erupted last month have killed more than a hundred people, triggering a humanitarian crisis with reports of starvation, lack of medicine and oxygen shortages following the blocking of the main highway connecting Kurram’s main city of Parachinar to the provincial capital of Peshawar.

In response to the problems being faced by residents, the KP administration has been facilitating travel between Parachinar and Peshawar. On Sunday, two flights evacuated 27 individuals as well as carried 16 government staffers and members of a tribal council, which has been striving to achieve peace, to Kurram.

“There is no fare involved in transportation of people or medicines via the helicopter, rather it is a voluntary service by the KP government to meet the emergency situation,” Nisar Muhammad Khan, a KP government official, told Arab News.

The helicopter service was also being used to dispatch medicines to Parachinar. A day ago, 53 individuals, including 14 patients, were shifted to Peshawar from Kurram via helicopter, according to the provincial authorities.

A third flight was scheduled to bring people stranded in the Tal area back to Parachinar, while five more flights were expected to relocate over a hundred people on Sunday, according to the provincial government.

Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s office said the government had so far dispatched 1,850 kilograms of medical supplies to Kurram, assuring that it would mobilize all resources to ease problems of the people and ensure durable peace in the region.

The development comes days after the KP authorities set a deadline of Feb. 1 for warring Sunni and Shia tribes in the district to surrender all weapons and dismantle their bunkers to stem sectarian clashes in the region.

The decision was made at a meeting of the KP apex committee, which comprises civilian and military officials, to discuss a sustainable solution to the issue. It allowed the launch of a special air service for temporary evacuation from some parts of Kurram to protect people’s lives, according to the apex committee declaration.

“The agreement outlines that both sides will submit a detailed action plan within 15 days for voluntary submission of weapons,” read a declaration issued after the apex committee meeting.

“All weapons are to be deposited with the local administration by February 1. Additionally, it was decided that all bunkers in the area will be dismantled by the same deadline.”

In the meantime, land routes to the area would be opened intermittently on humanitarian grounds and a mechanism was put in place for secure transportation, according to the statement.

“Personnel of police and Frontier Corps will jointly provide security to the convoys,” it read.

Last month’s clashes erupted after rival tribes attacked convoys of passengers on the Parachinar-Peshawar road, which were followed by attacks on each other’s villages.

The apex committee asked both sides to avoid any violent action in the future to keep the land route safe and open at all times, hoping that the parties would fully cooperate with the government for a lasting solution to the issue.

Topics: Pakistan kurram parachinar

Champions Trophy preparations in full swing as Karachi stadium upgradation nears completion

Updated 54 min 29 sec ago
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Champions Trophy preparations in full swing as Karachi stadium upgradation nears completion

  • PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi says the National Stadium will be ready well before the ICC tournament
  • He says the PCB is improving facilities for Pakistani cricket fans to ensure they have a better experience
Updated 54 min 29 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 are progressing rapidly, with the upgradation of Karachi’s National Stadium nearing completion, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday during a visit to the venue.

The tournament, scheduled for February 2025, has been at the center of controversy following India's reluctance to play in Pakistan due to strained political ties.

The International Cricket Council resolved the impasse by approving a hybrid model, allowing India’s matches to be held at neutral venues while other teams play in Pakistan. The decision ensured India’s participation while retaining Pakistan as the official host.

“Remarkable progress has been made in a very short time,” Naqvi was quoted in a PCB statement. “The upgradation of the National Stadium will be completed well before the Champions Trophy tournament.”

During the visit, Naqvi reviewed ongoing projects, including the installation of new seats in enclosures, enhanced parking facilities for 2,700 vehicles and finishing work on the stadium building.

He also instructed officials to expedite the installation of LED lights and scoreboards.

“We are improving facilities for cricket fans to ensure they have a better experience,” he added.

The PCB is under pressure to ensure the country is ready to host the major ICC tournament.

Security concerns and political tensions had previously kept high-profile international cricket events away, but recent improvements in safety and infrastructure have bolstered Pakistan’s case as a venue.

Praising the rapid progress at the National Stadium, Naqvi lauded the project team for their dedication.

“I congratulate the entire team for their outstanding and swift work,” he said.

The Champions Trophy is seen as a pivotal moment for Pakistan cricket, with the PCB aiming to deliver a world-class tournament to reaffirm the country’s ability to host international events successfully.

Topics: Champions Trophy 2025 Karachi stadium Pakistan Cricket ICC Arab News Pakistan

Students in Pakistan’s north embark on over 150-kilometer march for road safety awareness

Updated 22 December 2024
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Students in Pakistan’s north embark on over 150-kilometer march for road safety awareness

  • The marchers aim to press the government to built tunnels on 167-kilometer Juglot-Skardu Road to avoid accidents, blockades
  • They say the original construction plan of JSR included five tunnels, but not a single one was constructed by authorities
Updated 22 December 2024
Nisar Ali

KHAPLU, Gilgit-Baltistan: A group of students on Saturday embarked on a more than 150-kilometer march from Pakistan’s northern Gilgit district to Skardu, aiming to raise awareness about road safety.

The marchers called for making the 167-km single-carriage Juglot-Skardu Road (JSR), which connects the Gilgit division with Skardu district in the Baltistan division, safer for travelers by building tunnels at various locations prone to landslides in the mountainous region.

Skardu is a major tourism, trekking and mountaineering hub in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan region and home to Askole and Hushe villages, often referred to as gateways to snow-capped peaks, including K2, the Gasherbrums and Broad Peak, as well as the Baltoro, Biafo and Trango glaciers.

“We are marching just with a single agenda and our slogan is: ‘Build tunnels, save lives,’” Shehbaz Shareef, a member of the Baltistan Students Federation (BSF), told Arab News.

“We have organized this walk to raise awareness about the need for safer and reliable routes between Skardu and other parts of the country.”

The image circulating on social media on December 21, 2024, shows a group of students marching for road safety awareness in the Pakistan's northern Baltistan region. (Hassnain Abbas Khan Tayis/Facebook)

Shareef said the original construction plan for JSR included five tunnels, but none were built.

“This route has been constructed by FWO [Frontier Works Organization],” he added. “However, the tunnels were not built, and this road has become more dangerous.”

Arab News contacted FWO, a construction and engineering organization managed by the Pakistan Army, for its version. However, it was referred to the local chapter of the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, which did not respond to the query until the filing of this report.

The Awami Action Committee (AAC), a civic rights body in the region, announced its support for the march.

“We are very thankful to the BSF who are raising a very important issue. They are demanding the government to make this road safer through this march because this road is the only land route to the Baltistan division,” Najaf Ali, chairman of the AAC Baltistan chapter, told Arab News.

“It has become a well of death. Accidents are common on this road, and it has devoured many precious lives. A few days ago, five people were killed after a landslide buried their car. We have grown tired of lifting bodies due to accidents.”

Ali urged the government to build the requisite tunnels on the road.

“This is a matter of life and death, so we are with the students, and we will warmly receive them in Skardu,” he said. “Additionally, we also held a meeting with trade bodies and decided to launch a big drive to press the government to make this road safe.”

Mesam Kazim, opposition leader in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, said they would do their utmost to press the government for the construction of tunnels on JSR.

“In 2022, we adopted a unanimous resolution demanding the federal government to order the construction of tunnels on the Gilgit-Skardu road to avoid frequent blockades of the artery due to landslides,” Kazim said.

“In the initial PC-1 [survey] uploaded by NHA [National Highway Authority], the construction of tunnels was part of the plan. Tunnels have been missed, and international standards [of construction] have been violated by FWO on JSR.”

He lamented that there were no parking lots, safety barriers, or speed limit boards on the road, and more than 100 people had lost their lives in accidents on JSR over the last few years.

“Who is responsible for these casualties?” Kazim questioned.

Topics: Juglot-Skardu Road

Pakistan arrests two human smugglers linked to deadly Greek boat tragedy

Updated 22 December 2024
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Pakistan arrests two human smugglers linked to deadly Greek boat tragedy

  • FIA says Muhammad Aslam and Saeed Ahmed were arrested in separate operations from Gujranwala and Gurjat
  • Investigations reveal victims of the boat tragedy paid over $30,000 after being promised safe passage to Europe
Updated 22 December 2024
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Pakistani authorities on Sunday arrested two men involved in a recent boat tragedy off the coast of Greece that killed at least five nationals, as part of an intensified crackdown on human smuggling networks, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said.

The arrests come in the wake of a boat disaster last week near the Greek island of Gavdos, which highlighted the perilous journeys many migrants undertake, often driven by conflicts in the Middle East. In the case of Pakistani nationals, economic challenges push many young individuals to attempt dangerous crossings to Europe in search of better financial prospects.

The issue illegal immigrations to Europe came under greater scrutiny in the country last year when hundreds of migrants, including 262 Pakistanis, drowned after an overcrowded vessel capsized off the southwestern Greek coastal town of Pylos.

The FIA said it apprehended Muhammad Aslam and Saeed Ahmed in separate operations following directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to target those facilitating illegal migration.

The Pakistani agency informed Aslam was part of an international human smuggling ring and was accused of orchestrating the ill-fated journey that saw Pakistani migrants taken to Libya before being put on a boat bound for Greece.

“Using advanced technology, Aslam was tracked and arrested in Gujranwala,” the FIA statement said, adding the second suspect was arrested in Gujrat district located in the eastern Punjab province and was accused of creating fake travel documents and charging large sums for his services.

The statement informed Aslam extorted Rs8.5 million ($30,660) from victims by promising safe passage to Europe.

The Pakistani premier called for enhanced cooperation with international agencies earlier this month, seeking swift action against human trafficking networks. He also instructed the FIA to compile a detailed report on migration-related incidents over the past year and implement an Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) to monitor and prevent illegal movement.

The FIA said in its statement it had formed special teams to track other suspects linked to human smuggling rings.

“We will use all available resources to arrest those playing with innocent lives,” Abdul Qadir Qamar, the director of the FIA’s Gujranwala zone, was quoted as saying in the statement.

Authorities have presented 174 human smuggling cases in court this year, with four convictions reported so far. The government has also decided to launch a public awareness campaign to discourage dangerous migration attempts.

“Concrete evidence will ensure the culprits face severe punishment,” Qamar added, emphasizing the government’s commitment to preventing such tragedies.

Topics: Greece migrant boat

Pakistan government forms committee to negotiate with Imran Khan’s party amid growing polarization

Updated 22 December 2024
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Pakistan government forms committee to negotiate with Imran Khan’s party amid growing polarization

  • Development comes after Khan threatened civil disobedience in the country, seeking release of political prisoners
  • Government acknowledges talks can help break the current impasse which has also impacted national economy
Updated 22 December 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The government on Sunday formed a committee to hold talks with the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, state media reported, to discuss a range of issues causing political polarization that has also impacted the country’s fragile economy.

The move comes after PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan threatened to launch civil disobedience by urging overseas Pakistanis, a key support base for his party, to halt remittances if the government does not meet his demands, including the release of political prisoners, by Dec. 22.

Khan, who has been imprisoned for over a year on charges he claims are politically motivated, has also called for judicial commissions to investigate violent protests on May 9 last year and Nov. 26 this year, which the government says involved his party supporters.

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a committee comprising government members,” state-owned Pakistan Television News reported. “This committee will hold negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.”

The formation of the government’s negotiating team followed a meeting between PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Saturday evening in which Gohar requested the creation of a parliamentary committee to facilitate dialogue. Sadiq subsequently approached the Prime Minister, urging him to nominate representatives for the talks.

The government’s committee includes key figures from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), such as Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Political Adviser Rana Sanaullah and Senator Irfan Siddiqui, alongside representatives from allied parties. PTI has already established its own negotiating team.

The development comes a day after Pakistan’s military announced prison sentences for 25 people involved in the May 9, 2023, protests, which PTI has demanded be investigated. The military said it had gathered “irrefutable evidence” against those prosecuted and reiterated its commitment to bringing the planners of the violence to justice.

The announcement has raised concerns among supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who faces charges of inciting attacks against the armed forces and may potentially be tried in a military court.

The country has remained gripped by political unrest and uncertainty since Khan’s ouster from power through a parliamentary no-confidence vote, which has also exacerbated Pakistan’s economic hardships.

Senior government representatives have recently acknowledged that negotiations could offer a pathway out of the current political impasse. However, they have cautioned that it is too early to determine which of PTI’s demands might be addressed.

Topics: Pakistan Imran Khan PTI Arab News Pakistan

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