By Afshain Afzal

The unfortunate terrorist attack on a convoy of Chinese engineers near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan that took the lives of two Chinese engineers and one Pakistani with several injuries is under investigation. It seems obnoxious that the incident took place on night 6 October 2024 but FIR was lodged with a delay of three days on 9 October 2024. A Counter-Terrorism Department official disclosed that instead of the security personnel present at the place of incident the FIR No. 142/24 was lodged by SHO Moosa Kaleem Khan of the Airport Police Station who was neither an eye witness nor could immediately report at the site of terrorism. The FIR has been lodged under the Pakistan Penal Code’s sections 302 (murder), 353 (assault to deter public servant from discharging duty), 324 (attempted murder), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharging public functions) and 427 (mischief causing damage) but later includes sections 3 and 4 of the Explosive Substances Act, and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act was added. On the other hand, some witnesses pointed out illegal settlers from India and doing large business from “No Go Areas” and under government patronage.

On the condition of anonymity it was revealed that there was a clash in opinions and security agencies and others. The FIR quotes SHO recording his statement. The FIR quotes the SHO as saying that while he was on duty at around 11pm, a loud explosion was heard. Upon investigation, it was found that the explosion had occurred on the road in front of the CAA guardroom, near the outer signal of Jinnah International Airport Terminal Road. Several vehicles were destroyed in the blast, and fires broke out. Multiple individuals, including Rangers, police personnel and civilians, were injured, while two Chinese nationals were killed on the spot. Their bodies were found near the coaster, while parts of a third body were retrieved from a nearby drain. One wonders when those on security duties with the Chinese engineers or Rangers and security personnel were present at the site of terrorist attack and were prime witness, why FIR was not lodged by them? More so, why the FIR was not immediately lodged and what took FIR delay of three days?

We have the Lahore High Court’s Judgment, 2013 PLD 442 LAHORE-HIGH-COURT-LAHORE [p. 444] A S. 154 ---Police Rules, 1934, Chap. 34, R.1---Registration of FIR - Police carrying out inquiry/investigation prior to Registration of FIR. Legality Police officer did not have the authority to carry out an inquiry prior to Registration of a case. Similarly, we have Foreign Office Spokesperson Ms Mumtaz Zahra Baloch’s statement when she said, “this deplorable act of terrorism is an attack not only on Pakistan but also on the enduring friendship between Pakistan and China. We remain resolute in bringing to justice those responsible for this cowardly attack, including the Majeed Brigade.” One wonders how they got to know it was Baloch nationals or Balochistan Liberation Army or Majeed Brigade? Law is same for everyone and must be followed in letter and spirit. Why each time Baloch are blamed for terrorism even in cases where their own people were targeted. We all know the foreign hands supported by Indian and other agencies that are involved in privatizations investments purchase of power projects and businesses including Independent power producers (IPPs).