Three Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver were killed
on Wednesday when their car was attacked by gunmen in the town of
Hub, some 700 km southeast of Quetta, provincial capital of
Balochistan, according to Chinese consulate officials.
Three other Chinese who were also in the car at the time escaped
unscathed.
The Chinese consulate in Karachi confirmed that the three
Chinese killed were from a cement making company in Hefei in east
China's Anhui Province. The Chinese company is providing equipment
and technical services for the construction of a local cement
factory that will be completed in the first half of the year.
On Thursday morning, the Chinese Ministry of
Commerce confirmed the identities of the deceased: Long
Hongbao, Wei Jianpin and Zhao Bin
Chinese President Hu Jintao
is deeply concerned about the safety of other Chinese working in
Pakistan. He has ordered the Chinese Foreign Ministry,
embassy and consulates to make representations to Pakistani
authorities urging them to do whatever they can to find those
responsible, and ensure the safety of other Chinese nationals in
Pakistan.?
Hu also extended his condolences to the families of the
deceased.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Khurshid Kasuri, sent condolences
on behalf of Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf to the
families of the victims.
The other 11 Chinese engineers working on the project are
currently being housed in the Chinese consulate general, which is
making arrangements for the repatriation of the bodies to
China.
(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2006)