Terror attack on Chinese consulate in Karachi foiled; 7 killed
Karachi, Nov 23 : Three heavily-armed suicide bombers on Friday stormed the Chinese consulate in Pakistan's largest city Karachi, killing four people including two policemen before being shot dead by security forces which foiled the daring attack in the high-security zone, authorities said.
The attack was claimed by the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) which said it would not tolerate "any Chinese military expansionist endeavours on Baloch soil".
The consulate, located in the posh Clifton area, came under attack early morning.
Three suspected suicide bombers were killed before they were able to enter the facility as forces successfully foiled the attack, Karachi Police Chief Amir Shaikh said.
Nine hand grenades, Kalashnikov bullets, magazines and explosives were recovered from the possession of the terrorists, Geo news quoted police officials as saying.
"Food supplies and medicines were also recovered from their possession," officials said.
"We have received two dead bodies of policemen and an injured Chinese security guard who is under treatment," said Seemi Jamali, the executive director at Jinnah Hospital.
Two civilians, a father and his son were also killed, officials said.
The Sindh government and the Pakistan Army confirmed that three terrorists were killed in the operation.
The heavily-guarded E-Street neighbourhood, which is considered a red zone, is home to a number of upscale restaurants, diplomatic missions and schools.
The Bilawal House of Pakistan People's Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is also in the area. Schools and eateries have been locked down until a clearance operation is concluded.
Residents said they first heard firing and explosions around 9.30 AM (local time).
"The terrorists first attacked the checkpost outside the consulate and detonated a hand grenade in the area," Shaikh said.
Shaikh said the attackers had parked their vehicle at some distance from the consulate before moving towards it.
Defence analyst and security contractor Ikram Sehgal, whose company's guards have been posted at the consulate, said that the attackers had first engaged in an exchange of fire with policemen.
After the policemen and civilians were killed, he said, the attackers proceeded towards the gate of the consulate. However, the guards were quick to usher civilians with consular business into the building and shut the gates behind them.
The paramilitary rangers then reached the spot and engaged the attackers, he said. Sheikh said that all Chinese staffers "are safe and secure".
The separatist group BLA shared the photographs of the attackers. "Karachi: Fidayeen of BLA attacked the Chinese embassy in Karachi," it said in a tweet.
BLA has been designated as a terrorist entity by Pakistan.
The Foreign Office spokesman said that Islamabad is "in touch with the relevant agencies and will react quickly" to ascertain the facts.
Prime Minister Imran Khan took to Twitter to condemn the attack.
"Strongly condemn the terrorist attacks against Chinese Consulate in Karachi & in Orakzai tribal area. My prayers go to the victims & their families. Salute the brave security/police personnel who gave their lives & denied success to terrorists in the mission against Chinese Consulate," he said.
"The failed attack against the Chinese Consulate was clearly a reaction to the unprecedented trade agreements that resulted from our trip to China. The attack was intended to scare Chinese investors and undermine CPEC. These terrorists will not succeed," Khan said.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah contacted the Chinese consul general and assured him that the situation will be taken under control.
Governor of Sindh Imran Ismail has sought a report on the attack from the Sindh inspector general of police.
In Beijing, the China's foreign ministry strongly condemned the attack on its consulate and urged its all-weather ally to take "practical measures" to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in the country, mostly on projects linked to the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Hundreds of Chinese nationals are presently working in Pakistan specially in Karachi and the restive Balochistan province on projects of the CPEC and on other business ventures.
Chinese nationals in Karachi generally consider it a safe city to move around, carrying out their day-to-day business.
In February, a senior Chinese shipping executive was killed when unknown assailants opened fire on his vehicle near Zamzama park also in the Clifton area.
Sindh police chief Kaleem Imam said that security has been beefed up for the Chinese nationals and a comprehensive security plan would be drawn up to ensure they are under a security cover round the clock.
It is the first major terror strike in Karachi since March, 2016 when 45 Ismaili Muslims were killed in a targeted attack.
Since then, there had been calm in the country's financial hub as police and the paramilitary rangers have kept up a constant operation against militants, killing dozens of them in different parts of Karachi.
Friday's attack will leave the government and security forces concerned as the Chinese mission is located in a densely populated area.
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Constitution bench verdict binding on benches of lesser strength, says SC
New Delhi (PTI): A judgement of a Constitution bench would be "binding" on benches of lesser strength, the Supreme Court has said while recalling an April 2022 verdict delivered by it.
In its order dated April 7, 2022, the apex court had held that a panchayat cannot claim ownership of the land which has been taken from the real owners from their permissible ceiling limits under the land law in Haryana.
The apex court had consequently said panchayats can only manage and control the land which has been taken from the owners and cannot claim title.
"It is pertinent to note here that for the land taken from the proprietors by applying pro-rata cut from the permissible ceiling limits of the proprietors, management and control alone vests with the panchayat but such vesting of management and control is irreversible and the land would not revert to the proprietors for redistribution as the common purposes for which land has been carved out not only include the present requirements but the future requirements as well," it had said.
The top court had delivered the verdict on a batch of appeals against a full bench verdict of the Punjab and Haryana High Court which had examined the legality of sub-section 6 of Section 2(g) of the Haryana Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961.
In a judgement delivered on Thursday, a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta said that when the high court verdict rested on the law laid down by the apex court's Constitution bench in 1966, "the least that was expected" of the court in the judgement under review was to explain as to why the high court was wrong in relying on the 1966 verdict.
"No law is required to state that a judgement of the Constitution bench would be binding on the benches of a lesser strength. Bhagat Ram (1966 verdict) has been decided by a strength of five judges, this court having a bench strength of two judges could not have ignored the law laid down by the Constitution bench in paragraph 5 in Bhagat Ram," the bench said.
The top court delivered its verdict on a plea seeking review of the April 2022 judgement.
It said that "ignoring" the law laid down by the Constitution bench and taking a view totally contrary to the same would amount to a material error, manifest on the face of the order.
"Ignoring the judgement of the Constitution bench, in our view, would undermine its soundness. The review could have been allowed on this short ground alone," it said.
While allowing the review petition, the bench said, "The judgement and order of this court dated April 7, 2022... is recalled and the appeal is restored to file."
The bench directed that the appeal be listed for hearing on August 7.
The top court observed it was settled that the review would be permissible only if there was a mistake or error apparent on the face of the record or any other sufficient reason was made out.
"The review of the judgement would be permissible only if a material error, manifest on the face of the order, undermines its soundness or results in miscarriage of justice. We are also aware that such an error should be an error apparent on the face of the record and should not be an error which has to be fished out and searched," it noted.
