University of Karachi bombing

On 26 April 2022, a suicide bombing hit a van near the University of Karachi's Confucius Institute, killing three Chinese academics and their Pakistani driver. The Balochistan Liberation Army, a separatist and global terrorist group,[2] claimed responsibility, saying that the perpetrator was the organization's first female suicide bomber.[3][4]

University of Karachi bombing
Part of the insurgency in Balochistan
LocationKarachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Date26 April 2022
TargetChinese lecturers of Karachi University
Attack type
Suicide bombing
Deaths5 (including the perpetrator)
Injured4
PerpetratorBLA[1]

Of the three Chinese killed, one was the director of the University's Confucius Institute. The other two were teachers.[5]

The attack was strongly criticised in Pakistan[6] and by United States,[7] Saudi Arabia,[8] United Arab Emirates,[9] Oman,[10] China,[11] India,[12] Kuwait,[13] European Union,[14] United Nations[15] and United Nation Security Council.[16]

Perpetrator

The Balochistan Liberation Army, a global terrorist group funded by India,[2] claimed responsibility for the bombing, which it said was done to discourage Chinese development programs in the region.[17]

The bomber was identified as Shari Baloch (alias Bramsh; b. Sharan Hayat Baloch on 3 January 1991 in Tump, Balochistan), a 30-year old female and secondary school science teacher from Kech District in Balochistan.[18][19][20][21] She held bachelor's and master's degrees in education from the Allama Iqbal Open University, and had also obtained a master's degree in zoology from the University of Balochistan.[20][21] She had reportedly enrolled in another postgraduate degree at the University of Karachi months before the attack, but was not reported to be a student there at the time.[17][21][22] Shari had a daughter and son, both reportedly aged five, with her husband Habitan Bashir Baloch, who is also from Kech and a dentist.[17][23][20][22][24] In 2019, Shari Baloch landed a job in the Balochistan Education Department and was employed at a government secondary school in Kalatak, near Turbat, where she taught science to female students.[21] However, she had been absent from the school since six months before the attack and had been served a show-cause notice, to which she had not responded.[20] Her husband, Habitan, was also a lecturer at the Makran Medical College, and was undertaking a postgraduate degree in public health from the Jinnah Sindh Medical University.[20][21] Her husband was reported to be involved in a training programme at Karachi's Jinnah Hospital, and had been staying in a hotel near the hospital at the time.[21] The couple had rented an apartment in Gulistan-e-Johar, where Shari had been living for the past three years.[22][24]

Shari Baloch's family has been described as "well-established, highly educated with no previous affiliation with any Baloch insurgent group."[20] However, Shari herself had remained a member of the Baloch Students Organisation (Azad) group during her student life.[20] Her motivations for the attack could not be ascertained, as no one in her immediate family had reportedly been a victim of human rights abuse.[20] Hours before the attack, Baloch posted a farewell message on her Twitter account.[20] Soon after the bombing occurred, her husband posted a Tweet in which he eulogised and praised Shari, describing her action as a "selfless act".[23] Her husband's whereabouts were not known immediately after the attack, with raids being carried out by security forces to apprehend him and other suspected facilitators.[22] On 27 April, Habitan was reported to have been arrested.[25]

Reactions

The attack was strongly criticised in Pakistan[6] and by United States,[7] Saudi Arabia,[8] United Arab Emirates,[9] Oman,[10] China,[11] India,[12] Kuwait,[13] European Union,[14] United Nation[15] and United Nation Security Council.[16]

References
  1. 3 Chinese nationals among 4 dead in suicide attack at Karachi University
  2. "US designates Balochistan Liberation Army as global terrorist group". Dawn News. 2 July 2019.
  3. "Pakistan attack: Chinese killed in blast in Karachi". BBC News. 2022-04-26. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  4. Reuters (2022-04-26). "Three Chinese nationals among four killed in Pakistan bomb blast - police". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  5. "Balochistan Liberation Army claims Karachi attack and '1st woman suicide bomber'". Hindustan Times. 2022-04-26. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  7. Suicide blast in southern Pakistan kills 3 Chinese, driver. 26 April 2022. Associated Press.
  8. Saudi Arabia condemns terrorist bombing at Pakistan’s Karachi University. 28 April 2022. Arab News.
  9. UAE condemns terror attack on Pakistan's University of Karachi. 28 April 2022. Gulf News.
  10. Oman condemns Pakistan university attack. 28 April 2022. Oman Observer.
  11. China condemns suicide attack at Karachi University, demands punishment for perpetrators. 27 April 2022. Dawn News.
  12. Karachi attack underlines need for taking 'undifferentiated' position against terrorism: India. 29 April 2022. The Hindu.
  13. Kuwait condemns Karachi explosion. 28 April 2022. Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
  14. The EU condemns the terrible bomb attack in Karachi today. We express our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the victims. We stand together with Pakistan and all partners to fight terrorism. 26 April 2022.
  15. UN chief condemns terrorist attack in Pakistan's Karachi University. 27 April 2022. Xinhua.
  16. UN Security Council seeks cooperation with Pakistan, China to probe Karachi blast. 29 April 2022. Anadolu Agency.
  17. "Female graduate student behind Pakistan university attack: Report". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  18. "Woman graduate student behind suicide attack at Pakistani university". Arab News Pakistan. 27 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  19. "Balochistan Liberation Army claims Karachi attack and '1st woman suicide bomber'". Hindustan Times. 2022-04-26. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  20. "KU blast: Inside the mind of woman suicide bomber". The Express Tribune. 27 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  21. "Women suicide bomber was a teacher in Balochistan". The News. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  22. "Investigators say varsity blast intended to sabotage Pak-China ties". Dawn. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  23. "Husband of Karachi University blast suicide bomber 'beaming with pride': Report". Hindustan Times. 2022-04-27. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  24. "Police raids home of Karachi suicide bomber's father". Rediff. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  25. "Husband of Karachi University suicide bomber, Habitan Bashir Baloch, arrested". Bol News. 27 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
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