M. ilyas khan Sadozai
Following the tragic suicide bombing targeting Chinese nationals in Shangla, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad to offer condolences for the loss of lives. During the visit, Prime Minister Sharif conveyed messages of sympathy to the Chinese President and Prime Minister regarding the incident. He assured that Pakistan will conduct thorough investigations into the incident and ensure that those responsible face justice swiftly.
Prime Minister Sharif emphasized that attempts to undermine the Pak-China friendship will not succeed and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to continue the fight against terrorism until its complete eradication.It was revealed that immediately after the blast, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Jawans actively participated in rescue efforts. Meanwhile, a special committee comprising officials from the Ministry of Interior and Power Division was formed to inquire into the incident.
This committee, however, placed the blame solely on the police department, absolving officials from the Ministry of Interior and Power Division of any wrongdoing. Acting upon the committee’s recommendations and recognizing the security lapses, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif promptly suspended four police officers, including two Deputy Inspectors General of Police.
One police officer disclosed that neither the SSU nor the Hazara Division Police were informed about the transfer of foreign nationals, highlighting a lack of communication. Furthermore, the police were excluded from the security task force responsible for protecting Chinese engineers and other foreign nationals, a responsibility falling under the jurisdiction of the Interior Ministry and Power Division. Remarkably, during the inquiry, these officers attempted to shift blame onto the KPK Police.
Military experts have emphasized that preventing incidents like IED explosions or suicide attacks on long routes is extremely challenging. It is noteworthy that even superpowers like the US and NATO faced similar attacks in Afghanistan, resulting in significant losses and eventual troop withdrawals.In a similar incident in 2021, (13) Chinese engineers lost their lives, prompting various security measures to safeguard Chinese workers. The use of bomb-proof vehicles and helicopters was also recommended. However, after the Shangla incident, instead of making the police officers a scapegoat, there is an urgent need to examine the ground realities. The Federal Government should seriously consider the recommendations of SSU to ensure the safety of foreign workers who are playing vital role in country’s development.
Taking into account ground realities, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Special Security Unit (SSU) has proposed various measures to ensure the security of foreign nationals. It is imperative to examine these proposals in light of recent events. In the aftermath of the incident, the services of the suspended DIGs SSU, Zafer Ali and Ijaz Khan, along with other DPOs, were commendable.
They prevented adverse situations and ensured the protection of minority groups, including Chinese engineers. Similarly, the SSU has repeatedly demanded logistical support, including helicopters and bomb-proof vehicles. However, rather than scapegoating Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police officers after the Shangla incident, it is necessary to scrutinize ground realities. The federal government should carefully consider the recommendations put forward by the SSU to bolster the security of foreign workers who are integral to the nation’s development efforts.
