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China shuts consulate office in Pakistan, days after advisory to citizens
Days after issuing an advisory to its citizens to remain cautions due to the volatile security situation in Pakistan, China has reportedly shuttered its consulate office in the country.
In an announcement posted on its website, the Chinese embassy informed that its consular section is temporarily closed due to “technical issues.” However, the embassy has not provided any specific information about the nature of the aforementioned “technical issues” nor given a timeline on when or if the consular office will reopen.
The announcement read that due to technical issues, the consular section of the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad will be temporarily closed from February 13, 2023, until further notice.
The announcement comes following a notice issued by China to its citizens in Pakistan, advising them to remain cautious as they might be at risk due to deteriorating security situation in the country.
Terrorist attacks have surged since in the country since the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)—a close ally of the Afghan Taliban—broke off a truce with Islamabad.
On January 30 last month, a suicide bombing at a mosque in Peshawar city of northwestern Pakistan, left at least 90 people dead and over 200 wounded. According to reports, the TTP owned responsibility for the massacre.
Chinese nationals working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) have been often targeted by various terrorist groups in a bid to weaken the ambitious Belt and Road project—an initiative worth $65 billion network of roads, railways, pipelines, and ports in Pakistan connecting China to the Arabian Sea.
The project is expected to expand and modernize Pakistan’s flailing economy.
In April last year, three Chinese teachers and a local driver were killed in a suicide bombing when a female suicide bomber detonated her explosive vest.
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Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi claims responsibility for Sukhdool Singh’s killing in Canada
Terming Sukhdool Singh, a drug addict, Bishnoi’s gang claimed that he destroyed the lives of many people and that he was untimely punished for his sins.
Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has reportedly claimed responsibility for the killing of terrorist Sukhdool Singh in Canada’s Winnipeg city. According to reports, in a Facebook post, Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang stated that Sukhdool Singh, aka Sukha Dunuke, had played a pivotal role in the killings of gangsters Gurlal Brar and Vicky Middkhera. They further alleged that the murders were plotted by Sukhdool Singh when he was staying abroad.
Terming Sukhdool Singh, a drug addict, Bishnoi’s gang claimed that he destroyed the lives of many people and that he was untimely punished for his sins. Lawrence Bishno’s gang also alleged that Sukhdool Singh, a member of Davinder Bambiha, also got Sandeep Nangal Ambiya, another gangster, killed. They added that it gave a stern warning to their enemies, stating they would not be able to live in peace, even if they hide in India or any other country.
The Killing of Sukhdool Singh came amid growing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada over the killing of another Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British California. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was wanted in India, was gunned down outside a gurdwara in June.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Bishnoi is currently behind bars in Ahmedabad in a drugs smuggling case probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). In addition, he is also an accused in the Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala murder case.
Sukhdool Singh is reportedly an A-category gangster, who hailed from Punjab’s Moga and earlier escaped from his state to Canada. He was an aide of Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala. As far as reports are concerned, in 2017, Sukhdool Singh alias Sukha Dunuke obtained a passport and a police clearance certificate on forged documents to flee to Canada despite having seven criminal cases lodged against him.
Reports suggested that Sukhdool Singh, an aide of Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala, was killed in an inter-gang rivalry.
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May 9 violence: Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan charged with criminal conspiracy
Khan is charged with storming the city’s Askari Tower and Lahore Corps Commander House on May 9 along with many PTI leaders and employees.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been accused of masterminding the attack on army sites and encouraging the populace to mutiny, a charge that carries a possible sentence of the death penalty, a senior Punjab Police official said on Wednesday.
Following Khan’s May 9 arrest by the paramilitary Rangers in a corruption case, Pakistan saw widespread anti-government demonstrations on a large scale. Later, 70-year-old Khan was released on bond.
During the riots, several of military facilities and government structures, including the military headquarters in Rawalpindi, were destroyed or set on fire. More than 100 police and other security agency vehicles caught fire.
Khan is charged with storming the city’s Askari Tower and Lahore Corps Commander House on May 9 along with many PTI leaders and employees.
Anoosh Masood, a senior investigating officer with the Lahore police, announced at a press conference that Khan and other PTI leaders and employees have been charged with criminal conspiracy for encouraging supporters to destroy military and government facilities on May 9.
The PTI chairman was masterminding the attacks on military posts and instigating people to violence, according to the police investigation into the events of May 9 in Lahore, she claimed.
Along with violating Section 120-B, Khan and others will also be held accountable for nine more offences, including inciting riots, encouraging mutiny, and attempting to wage war against Pakistan. The police detectives and prosecutors have filed a challan for the case, which will be delivered to the Anti-Terrorism Court Lahore, Masood added.
Since August 5, 2023, Khan has been detained in the Punjab province’s Attock Jail. He was detained in connection with the Toshakhana (gifts) case, and a three-year sentence was subsequently imposed. After the higher court postponed the judgement, he was later given bail in the case. He was detained once more under the Official Secrets Act in the cypher case, nevertheless.
Khan has applied for post-arrest bail in the cypher case before the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
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India-Canada ties worsen as India expels Canadian diplomat
The move comes in response to hours after Canada expelled an Indian diplomat after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation that there was a potential link between the killing of a Khallistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the Indian government .
The High Commissioner of Canada to India, Cameron MacKay was summoned today and informed about the government of India’s decision to expel a senior Canadian Diplomat based in India. The concerned Diplomat has been asked to leave India within the next five days. The decision taken by the Indian government shows India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in India’s internal matters and their involvement in anti India activities.
The move comes in response to hours after Canada expelled an Indian diplomat after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation that there was a potential link between the killing of a Khallistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the Indian government . Sikh Leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a strong supporter of an independent Sikh homeland Khalistan, who was gunned down on June 18 outside a Sikh cultural centre in Surrey, British Columbia.
According to Trudeau he also brought up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit. Following Trudeau’s charges, Canada expelled a top Indian diplomat. Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly announced the head of Indian intelligence in Canada has been expelled as a result. Trudeau said any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is unacceptable violation of Canada’a sovereignty.
The Indian Embassy in Ottawa did not immediately answer phone calls to the media. The Indian government rejected Canada’s allegations and termed the charges were motivated and absurd. The Indian government said India has a strong commitment to rule of law. The Khalistan movement is banned in India, where officials see it and affiliated groups as a national threat to the security of India.But the movement still has support in North India as well as in countries like the United Kingdom and the Canada which have a sizable Sikh population.
