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ISLAMABAD:
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari asserted on Saturday that the perpetrators of the University of Karachi (KU) attack, that claimed the lives of three Chinese teachers last month, will be severely punished.
The foreign minister condemned the terrorist attack at an event held at the foreign ministry in memory of the victims of the terrorist attack.
Three Chinese teachers of Confucius Institute at KU and their Pakistani driver were killed when a suicide bomber blew herself up near their van on April 26.
“The Chinese are our guests, their safety is our responsibility,” Bilawal added.
He also stated that Pakistani hospitality was renowned the world over, and no Pakistani can ever tolerate such an attack on their guests.
Reiterating the continued cordial relations that the two nations enjoy, he furthered that Pakistan and China have always faced all challenges together and that shall remain the case.
“The friendship between Pakistan and China is not only between the two states but also between the people,” he added.
Read China hails Pakistan support post-KU attack
The foreign minister also noted the contributions of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari in establishing this friendship.
In another statement earlier this week, the minister had emphasized that the government sought to further strengthen Pakistan’s “all-weather strategic partnership” with China, including through the “rapid implementation” of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of President Xi Jinping.
In a statement on April 30, President Dr Arif Alvi had blamed the KU suicide attack on hostile countries, saying that they wanted to harm the friendship between the two countries and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
“The hostile countries will not succeed in their nefarious designs as both the countries enjoy deep-rooted ties and are strongly committed to strengthening their all-weather friendship,” he had added.
Last week, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian had said that after the KU attack, President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pevaiz Ashraf, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Imran Khan and other lawmakers of the Senate of Pakistan and National Assembly visited the Chinese embassy to pay their condolences.
Different social sectors in Pakistan had also expressed their condemnation and condolences. He also added that China paid great attention to Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening the security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions.