At least four people, including three Chinese nationals, were killed while two others were injured in a blast outside the University of Karachi’s (KU) Confucius Institute, officials said on Tuesday.
Sindh IG Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar confirmed the death toll in a telephone call with Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. A handout from the CM’s office quoted the officer as saying that the blast took place in a van at approximately 2:30pm.
The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack.
A spokesperson for the university confirmed that three of the victims were Chinese nationals. They were identified as Confucius Institute Director Huang Guiping, Ding Mupeng, Chen Sai and Khalid, the driver.
The spokesperson said that two others, Wang Yuqing and Hamid, were injured in the incident.
Earlier in the day, SSP East Syed Abdul Rahim Sherazi had hinted that a “couple” of Chinese nationals, who were part of KU faculty, were among the deceased.
Television footage showed a white van in flames with plumes of smoke rising from its remains while the windows of nearby buildings were shattered. The van appeared to be turning towards the Confucius Institute, located next to the commerce department, when the incident took place.
Footage also showed police and rescue services present at the scene of the incident.
Speaking to the media, DIG East Muqaddas Haider, said initial information showed the van was headed to the institute after leaving the hostel.
“The explosion took place at the van’s right side at the [institute’s] entrance. We are still establishing what type of explosion it was,” Haider said, confirming that four people had been killed.
When asked to comment on the nature of the blast, the DIG said it was too early to say anything definitively. Haider said CCTV footage was being analysed and the nature of the blast would only be confirmed after the bomb disposal squad submitted its report.
‘Amazing teacher’
Mustajab Hussain, a 25-year-old student hailing from Gilgit-Baltistan, was heartbroken over the death of one of his teachers.
Hussain, who has been studying at the institute for the past three years, said that two female faculty members were among the deceased while the third one was the director, based on the identities shared by the KU spokesperson. The director had just come around a month ago.
“Chen Sai was my teacher. Her class was at 2:30pm. She was an amazing teacher and very friendly. Whatever we found difficult, she would always explain very nicely. She was very young, in her early 20s,” he said.
According to Hussain, the Chinese faculty members used to live at a guest house inside KU premises. They were coming from the guest house to the institute when the explosion occurred at the gate.
Sindh CM visits Chinese consulate
Meanwhile, the Sindh chief minister paid a visit to the Chinese Consulate where he briefed Consul General Li Bijian about the blast.
Shah expressed grief over the death of three Chinese nationals in the incident, a statement issued by the CM’s office said. The chief minister also assured the Chinese official that the incident would be fully investigated, the statement added.
“Those involved in the incident will be brought to justice. We value the services rendered by Chinese experts in the country and the province,” Shah said.
“Some elements do not like the partnership between the two countries,” he said, adding that the miscreants behind the incident would be dealt with an iron hand.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the blast in a telephone call with the Sindh chief minister. The premier assured Shah of the Centre’s full help and cooperation in dealing with such incidents.
