The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police has written a letter to the Counter-Terrorism Department to register a first information report (FIR) of the attack on a Chinese convoy in Shangla district's Bisham area on Tuesday.
In the letter, sent on behalf of the station house officer of the Bisham police, the CTD has been urged to file an FIR under terrorism provisions.
In the letter issued by the police, it was mentioned that a suicide attack took place on a Chinese convoy near Lahore Nullah in Bisham. The convoy consisting of 12 vehicles was travelling from Islamabad to Dasu Dam in Kohistan, when a suicide bomber hit one of the coaches with an explosive-laden vehicle.
Also Read: Six killed in suicide attack in KP's Shangla district
The explosion caused a fire in the targeted vehicle that fell into a deep ditch. In the accident, five Chinese nationals were killed, as well as their Pakistani driver.
Other Chinese citizens and security personnel in the convoy narrowly escaped the attack, while other vehicles in the convoy also suffered a lot of damage.
An FIR of the incident must be registered against unidentified terrorists, the letter stated.
On Tuesday, six people, including five Chinese nationals, were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in was attacked in the Bisham tehsil of Shangla district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Malakand Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police Muhammad Ali claimed that five Chinese engineers and their driver were feared to be the victims after their car was attacked.
Also Read: Shangla attack: China demands thorough probe, seeks perpetrators' prosecution
He further said that many people were feared injured also in the attack. "The attack appears to be a suicide, but an investigation is underway," the police officer said, adding that the passenger vehicle was going from Islamabad to Kohistan.
The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan strongly condemned the incident and demanded thorough investigation along with severe punishment for the perpetrators. The embassy confirmed the unfortunate deaths of five Chinese citizens and one Pakistani citizen in the attack.
Expressing condolences and sympathy to the victims and their families, the Chinese Embassy and consulates general in Pakistan assured that they were actively collaborating with the Pakistani authorities to manage the aftermath of the incident.
In a statement issued shortly after the attack, the Chinese Embassy emphasised the immediate need for a comprehensive investigation into the matter and urged for the swift apprehension and punishment of those responsible for perpetrating this heinous act of violence.
