Friday , March 29 2024

Gunmen attack Pearl Continental hotel Gwadar, police confirmed

Sindhsamaachar Monitoring Desk

Gawadar: Firing is taking place at the Pearl Continental (PC) Hotel in Gwadar after three to four gunmen stormed the facility, according to SHO Gwadar Aslam Bangulzai, confirmed and said that “At around 4:50 pm we got reports that there are three to four armed men in PC Hotel,” the SHO said, adding that “additional police force, ATF (Anti-terrorism force) and army are all present” to handle the situation. The police official further said, “the firing is ongoing but there are no reports of any casualties yet”. However, provincial Home Minister Mir Zia Langove later said that “some people present inside the hotel have been injured from the terrorists’ firing.” He refused to say how many hotel staffers were present in the hotel at the time of the attack.

SHO Aslam Bangulzai said that there were no foreigners at the hotel — a point corroborated by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohsin Hassan Butt. The IGP also confirmed that “two to three gunmen had first fired at and then entered the hotel,” adding that “95 percent of the hotel has been evacuated.” The provincial police chief further said that “the attackers may have come in a boat to launch the attack.” Frontier Corps personnel have cordoned off the hotel and no one is allowed to go near the area, police sources said. The Pearl Continental (PC) Hotel in Gwadar, is located on the Koh-e-Batil Hill, south of West Bay on Fish Harbour Road. The five-star hotel is frequented by both business and leisure travelers. The attack comes just weeks after 14 people, including 11 personnel of Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guards, were killed by gunmen near Ormara in Gwadar.

China is currently working with the federal government to develop Gwadar port to facilitate connectivity and trade. Beijing is investing around $50 billion in Pakistan as part of a plan unveiled in 2015 to link its far-western Xinjiang region to Gwadar port in Balochistan with a series of infrastructure, power and transport upgrades. Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani condemned “the terrorists attack” on PC Hotel, and instructed the authorities to “ensure the safety of all inside the hotel”. The chief minister called for a “well planned and strong action against the terrorists”, adding that he is “in touch with police and local administration” regarding the situation.

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