Three Chinese engineers killed in Pakistan
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-02-16 09:59

Three Chinese engineers were killed by gunmen in Southern Pakistan, the Ministry of Commerce confirmed Thursday morning.

The victims, Long Hongbao, Wei Jianpin and Zhao Bin, were shot along with other three colleagues when their car were attacked by gunmen on a road in the town of Hub, some 700 km southeast of Quetta, the Balochistan provincial capital.

The engineers were working for a Chinese company to prepare equipments and offer technical service for the construction of a local cement factory which will be accomplished in the first half of this year.

Chinese diplomats in Karachi then led the other 11 Chinese engineers in the project into the Chinese consulate and helped take the victims' bodies back to Karachi, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

The Ministry has triggered off emergency mechanism and forged task forces to cope with the issue and required the related Chinese companies to dispatch working groups to deal with the aftermath.

Hu concerned over safety of Chinese in Pakistan

Chinese President Hu Jintao showed deep concern for the safety of the Chinese engineers in Pakistan after the deadly incident.

Informed about the murder Wednesday evening, Hu Jintao ordered Chinese Foreign Ministry, embassy and consulates to require Pakistan to catch the murderers, ensure the safety of the Chinese there and properly handle the aftermath.

Hu also extended condolence on the death of the victims and expressed sympathy to their families.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao made similar instructions, according to sources with the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing made an urgent phone call with his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Kasuri at 1:00 a.m. on Thursday.

Li required Pakistan to properly deal with the aftermath, catch the killers as soon as possible and make utmost efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel in Pakistan.

Kasuri asked Li to convey condolences from Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to Hu Jintao and from Prime Minister Shaukat Azizto Wen Jiabao on the death of Chinese engineers.

Kasuri also extended condolence on the casualties and expressed sympathy to the victims' families on behalf of the Pakistani government.

He told Li that Pakistani government will try its utmost efforts to catch the murderers and take every measure to ensure the safety of Chinese people there and properly treat with the aftermath.