KARACHI: The administration of Pakistan’s commercial capital Karachi imposed a two-month ban on the use of drones in the southern district on Saturday, citing “serious threats” to the Chinese diplomatic mission from militant groups and hostile agencies.
The threats to Chinese nationals and their consulate in the city have manifested in high-profile attacks in the past, including the 2018 assault on the diplomatic facility and the 2022 bombing near the Confucius Institute at Karachi University, resulting in the deaths of Chinese academics.
These incidents prompted Pakistani authorities to enhance security measures to protect Chinese nationals involved in significant projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, considered a future lifeline for the South Asian nation.
More recently, five Chinese nationals working were targeted and killed along with their local driver by a suicide bomber in the country’s northwest on March 26, leading to an emergency security meeting wherein the government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting all Chinese workers “contributing to the prosperity of Pakistan.”
“Whereas, it has been reported that there are serious threats to vital installations and Chinese Consulate, Karachi by the Anti-State Elements/Hostile agencies in the wake of recent attacks on Chinese Nationals, therefore, it is necessary to take immediate measures to avoid any mishaps & to maintain law and order situation in the city,” said a notification issued the office of the commissioner of Karachi division.
“In exercise of powers under section 144 (6) Cr.P.C delegated by Home Department, Government of Sindh ... I, Muhammad Saleem Rajput, Commissioner Karachi Division, do hereby impose complete ban on the use of Drones within the local limited of District South Karachi for a period of 02 months ... with immediate effect,” the notification added.
Pakistani officials told the media on Friday Chinese contractors had halted construction on two major dam projects in the country, following the recent suicide attack. These companies have been calling for a new security plan before resuming their activities, which involve nearly 1,250 Chinese nationals.
The incident is also being probed by a team of Chinese experts that arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday.
Pakistani authorities impose drone ban in Karachi amid ‘serious threats’ to Chinese consulate
https://arab.news/bcx8p
Pakistani authorities impose drone ban in Karachi amid ‘serious threats’ to Chinese consulate
- The commissioner of Karachi division says the threats come from anti-state elements and hostile agencies
- The decision comes just a few days after a suicide bomber killed five Chinese nationals in Pakistan’s northwest
Pakistan marks Peshawar school attack anniversary with renewed vow against terrorism
- President recalls children killed in 2014 school massacre in Peshawar
- Attack remains one of the deadliest assaults on students globally
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday marked the 11th anniversary of the 2014 Army Public School (APS) terror attack in the northwestern city of Peshawar, with President Asif Ali Zardari reaffirming the country’s commitment to defeating terrorism and honoring the victims of one of the deadliest school massacres in modern history.
On December 16, 2014, gunmen affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) stormed the APS campus in Peshawar, killing more than 150 people, including over 130 children, in an hours-long siege that shocked the country and drew international condemnation. The attack targeted students and staff and remains a defining moment in Pakistan’s fight against militancy.
The massacre prompted a nationwide crackdown on extremist groups, leading to the launch of major military operations and a series of counterterrorism measures, including the National Action Plan, aimed at dismantling militant networks and curbing violent extremism. While militant violence declined in subsequent years, Pakistan has seen a renewed surge in attacks since 2022, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.
“Today we remember the innocent children and staff of the Army Public School whose lives were taken in the brutal terrorist attack on 16 December 2014,” President Zardari said in a message issued on the anniversary. “Their sacrifice remains a solemn reminder of the heavy price our nation has paid in the fight against terrorism.”
He said Pakistan’s resolve against militancy remained unwavering, stressing that there could be “no soft corner for terrorists or those who support, finance, shelter or justify them,” and that there would be no negotiations with those who take up arms against the state or target civilians.
The president also condemned what he described as ongoing Indian-sponsored militancy in Pakistan, saying Islamabad would continue to expose hostile activities and defend its people, an allegation New Delhi has consistently denied.
Zardari paid tribute to the country’s security forces, law enforcement agencies and intelligence services, saying their efforts had prevented many attacks and would continue until all perpetrators and facilitators were brought to justice.
“The memory of the APS martyrs strengthens our resolve,” he said. “Pakistan will never allow the enemies of peace to succeed.”
The APS attack remains one of the world’s deadliest assaults on students and continues to shape Pakistan’s domestic security policies and public discourse on counterterrorism, education safety and extremism.
