Female Bomber Blows Self Outside Karachi University
Three Chinese nationals and a Pakistani driver were killed on Tuesday after an explosion ripped through a van inside Karachi University campus in Pakistan.
Three Chinese nationals and a Pakistani driver were killed on 26th April after an explosion ripped through a van in Karachi University campus in Pakistan. A disturbing video of the moment went viral on social media. The Chinese passengers were in the minibus and were returning to Karachi university after a lunch break. In the video posted on Twitter, a woman is seen standing next to a tree and when a van comes near, she blows herself up. The bomb exploded at the entrance to the University. As per the police, the blast killed 3 Chinese teachers and a Pakistani national who was the driver of the van. The Balochistan Liberation Army is a militant group in nearby Baluchistan province. This group had emailed News agency Reuters and claimed responsibility for the attack. They said the suicide bomber’s name is Shari Baluch. They said that she was the group’s first female bomber. The BLA, in their email, shared a photo of the woman clad in a long shawl sitting with two children. The picture is also circulating on social media. Local media reported that the bomber had been a student at the university.
The group has targeted Chinese nationals in attacks in the past. Let me tell you why they have been attacking the Chinese nationals. Balochistan is an area under Pakistan. Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) wants independence from Pakistan. Till they get full independence, they want more autonomy (power) and a greater share in the region’s natural resources like coal mines, minerals like copper, gold, gemstones, etc. China and Pakistan are working on a project called China Pakistan Economic-Corridor (CPEC) project which is a road to increase trade between both the countries. The project includes a number of infrastructure projects and several power projects. Out of this whole project there is a key road linking Gwadar, in Balochistan province, with China’s Xinjiang province. Thousands of Chinese workers are living and working in Pakistan and working on these projects. The BLA opposes Chinese investment in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan, saying that the local people do not benefit.
Some other activists say that Pakistan always talks about acquiring the land. They don't want the Baloch people but want the resources there. It has been exploiting the resources and making money out of these projects. So, because of their differences with Pakistan and no benefit of these projects to the local people, the BLA attacks the Chinese people working in Pakistan. China's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attack and "demanded" Pakistan punish the perpetrators, protect Chinese citizens and prevent such incidents from happening again."I am deeply grieved on the loss of precious lives including of our Chinese friends in the heinous attack in Karachi today," Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a statement. He promised a speedy investigation. Pakistan blames neighbouring India for backing the insurgents. However India has always denied these charges.
CORRECTION: In an update it was found that there were more than 3 people in the bus and some have been injured as well.
