KARACHI: The police in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province this week said they are bound to follow the federal and provincial governments’ instructions to ensure protection for Chinese nationals, responding to a group of Chinese citizens who filed a petition against alleged police harassment and extortion.
The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday sought a response from Pakistani authorities over alleged harassment, extortion and unlawful restrictions on Chinese nationals imposed by police in Sindh, after a group of 12 Chinese nationals filed a petition in December alleging their families were confined to their residences for nearly a week, forcing them to pay police hefty bribes.
A significant number of private Chinese investors have arrived and established businesses with local partners in Pakistan since both countries initiated the multi-billion-dollar infrastructure China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in 2015.
In Sindh, the provincial government has established a Special Protection Unit (SPU) within the provincial police force to ensure security for Chinese nationals, under threat from separatist groups operating in neighboring Balochistan province which have also carried out attacks on Chinese interests and citizens in Karachi, the commercial hub of the country.
“Sindh Police is bound to implement at any cost the instructions/SOPs issued by the Government of Pakistan and the Sindh government in the context of the safety of Chinese guests,” a statement from the Sindh Police’s Public Relations officer said on Friday.
It said the provincial police aims to provide convenience and security to Chinese investors, and is ensuring all possible measures for their “foolproof security measures.”
“The responsibility of the security of Chinese citizens associated with non-CPEC projects lies with Sindh Police and local sponsors,” the statement said, adding that security lapses and gaps are regularly checked to ensure security for Chinese nationals.
The provincial police said In case of any security complaints by Chinese investors, senior officers immediately check and resolve it.
“Sindh Police will ensure the implementation of instructions issued by the Government of Pakistan and the Government of Sindh regarding the safety of Chinese citizens so that a safe environment can be provided to Chinese investors,” it concluded.
China has repeatedly urged Pakistani authorities to ensure protection for its citizens living and working in the South Asian country.
A suicide blast claimed by the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) killed two Chinese nationals in Karachi in October, while five Chinese workers were killed in a suicide bombing in March 2024 in northwest Pakistan.
