Islamabad: Pakistan’s counter-terrorism police have arrested two suspects from Lahore in connection with the deadly attack on a bus carrying Chinese nationals to Dasu dam and also bomb blast in Johar Town, Lahore.
The suspects, two brothers, were arrested from Defence area of Lahore where they had been living for the last 15 years, according to Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Punjab. The two moved to Lahore from Quetta, according to local media reports that added that the CTD had received reports about their involvement in the terror, attacks. The suspects were believed to be “directly or indirectly involved” in the two terrorist activities.
At least 13 people, including nine Chinese nationals, and four Pakistanis – two security personnel and two citizens – were killed and 28 were injured when a bus carrying them to an under-construction site of Dasu hydropower project fell into a ravine in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after an explosion on July 14 morning.
Pakistani and Chinese security experts are jointly investigating the Dasu bus terror attack to trace the “hidden hands” behind the tragic incident. In a recent official meeting in China, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed to jointly combat terrorism and also to take joint actions to address the spillover effect into Pakistan due to the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.
A day earlier, a Chinese national was shot and wounded in an attack in Karachi city. Police said they are currently investigating the attack. Speaking in Beijing at a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian described the incident as “an isolated case”, adding that China has “full confidence in Pakistan side’s protection of Chinese citizens and property in Pakistan.”
