Pakistani court hands BLF terrorist 48-year jail term over attack on Chinese engineers

The accused, identified as Dad Bux, was convicted on seven counts by the Anti-Terrorism Court-IV on November 13, following arguments from both the prosecution and the defence, Dawn reported.

The court sentenced him to 14 years in prison for terrorism, 10 years each for attempted murder and possession of an illegal weapon, and an additional 14 years for causing injuries to the victims in the attack. All the sentences will run concurrently.

During the proceedings, Iqbal Meo Rajput, Deputy Prosecutor General of Sindh, told the court that the accused was also being tried in a university bombing case. He allegedly conducted surveillance and reconnaissance of the university at the behest of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The case remains under trial.

Rajput further informed the court that during his initial interrogation, the accused had allegedly confessed to carrying out the 2021 attack alongside his co-accused, Nasir Baloch, targeting the Chinese engineers.

The court also directed that the case file would remain dormant until the arrest of the co-accused.

During the hearing, the judge observed that an attack deliberately targeting Chinese nationals could have implications beyond an ordinary criminal offence, particularly given the strategic and economic relationship between Pakistan and China.

The court noted that such an attack could be aimed at undermining bilateral cooperation, sabotaging the Pakistan-China strategic partnership and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), deterring foreign investment, damaging the national economy and creating fear and insecurity within the country. It said such acts could fall within the ambit of Section 6 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

The attack took place on July 28, 2021, near Gulbai Bridge, when an armed pillion rider opened fire on a vehicle carrying two Chinese nationals. Both engineers and their driver sustained injuries in the incident.

One of the Chinese nationals suffered serious injuries in the attack.