On Saturday Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao
said that a security plan has been devised to protect Chinese
workers in Pakistan. The plan was drawn up on the instructions of
President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat
Aziz.
He was speaking during a briefing to a Chinese delegation led by
Assistant Commerce Minister Chen Jian.
Sherpao said security arrangements already in place would be
further enhanced and reassured the delegation that last week's
kidnapping would not be repeated. He also confirmed Musharraf's
earlier statement that the mastermind behind the hostage crisis
would be found and punished.
"We are deeply saddened that one of the hostages lost his life
due to his injuries. The whole nation is grieved at the sad demise
of our Chinese brother," he said, "We also extend condolences to
the family of the deceased and convey our deep regret to the whole
of China."
The Pakistani Communications Ministry has taken special measures
for the safety of Chinese working on its projects, particularly in
Gawadar Seaport.
"China is an extremely reliable friend of Pakistan and the
terrorists can never shake this exemplary friendship," said the
Minister for Communications, Muhammad Shamim Siddiqui. He also
expressed his profound grief at the death of the Chinese engineer
and said he will be visiting the Chinese Embassy to offer his
sympathies.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan
Peoples Party Benazir Bhutto also expressed her distress over Wang
Peng's murder.
Pakistan local news agency NNI quoted Bhutto as saying: "The
death of one of the two engineers has sent shock waves throughout
Pakistan. We sincerely regret this irreparable loss of life and
pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul."
On Sunday, Chinese State Councilor Tang
Jiaxuan arrived in Islamabad, starting his two-day official
good-will visit to Pakistan. He was to meet the Pakistani Prime
Minister that day and President Musharraf and Foreign Minister
Khurshid Kasuri later on Sunday to reinforce positive relations
between the two countries.
(Shenzhen Daily, Xinhua News Agency, October 18,
2004)