KARACHI: A court in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi sentenced a Chinese citizen to six years in jail for committing cyber terrorism and ATM skimming, officials told Arab News on Wednesday, informing that the judge declared another Chinese citizen as absconder in the case.
“A Chinese, named Liu Linan, has been given six years and three months in prison under three different sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PCC),” prosecutor Mirza Tanveer Hussain told Arab News, adding: “The court also slapped Rs1.2 million of fine on him.”
“One of the accused has been declared an absconder,” he continued.
Linan was arrested for using skimming devices to steal money from ATMs in the Defense area of the city in 2018.
In January this year, a sessions court in Karachi acquitted three Chinese nationals who were charged with cyber terrorism and ATM skimming due to lack of evidence.
In January 2018, however, officials of law enforcement agencies told Arab News that they believed a Chinese criminal network was skimming ATM machines in Pakistan.
Two Chinese nationals were caught by the manager of a local bank in downtown Karachi in January 2018 and handed over to the police and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
“For a moment, I thought we may face embarrassment when we were on our way to arrest them,” Salman Waheed, a police officer at the station house to which the two thieves were taken, had told Arab News back then. “We are usually expected to help and protect Chinese nationals in Pakistan.”
China is Pakistan’s major regional ally and the opening of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has seen an influx of Chinese nationals into the country.
In ATM skimming, hidden electronic devices are attached to automated teller machines which steal personal information from cards inserted into a fake reader placed over the machine’s actual card slot.
Pakistani court sentences Chinese citizen to six years in prison
https://arab.news/yu2bs
Pakistani court sentences Chinese citizen to six years in prison
- The court also slapped a fine of Rs1.2 million on Liu Linan
- One Chinese national has been declared absconder in the case
China backs Pakistan in fight against militancy after deadly Balochistan attacks
- China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan and has pledged over $65 billion in major infrastructure projects, including in Balochistan
- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian says ‘we mourn for lives lost, and our hearts go out to injured and those who lost loved ones’
ISLAMABAD: China condemns the recent attacks that killed more than 200 people in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday, reaffirming Beijing’s support for Pakistan in its fight against militancy.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) group launched coordinated attacks in several cities across Balochistan on Saturday, killing 33 civilians and 17 security personnel. Officials said 117 militants were killed in skirmishes and follow-up operations.
Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, is the site of a decades-long insurgency waged by Baloch separatist groups who often attack security forces, foreigners and non-local Pakistanis and kidnap government officials.
China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan and has pledged over $65 billion in investment in road, infrastructure and development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
“China strongly condemns the [Balochistan] attacks... We mourn for the lives lost, and our hearts go out to the injured and those who lost their loved ones,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press briefing on Tuesday.
“China firmly opposes any form of terrorism and will as always firmly support Pakistan in combating terrorism, maintaining solidarity and social stability, and protecting the safety of the people.”
Chinese nationals working in Pakistan have often been targeted by militants, particularly in the southwestern Balochistan province, where China is developing a deep seaport that is touted as the crown jewel of CPEC.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said last week the attacks, claimed by the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), were planned from India. New Delhi rejected the allegation as “baseless,” saying Islamabad was attempting to deflect attention from its internal challenges.
Balochistan is home to vast reserves of minerals and hydrocarbons. Separatist militant groups such as the BLA blame Islamabad for exploiting Balochistan’s natural resources and denying locals a share in them. The military and civilian government reject these allegations and say they are investing in the province’s development.
