A security guard was martyred as three gunmen stormed into the Pearl Continental hotel in Gwadar on Saturday.South Punjab News reported
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the terrorists attempted to force their way into the five-star hotel and were challenged by the security guard, who was fired at and embraced martyrdom.
The assailants were encircled in the staircase of the top floor, and a “clearance operation is in progress”.
Guests were safely evacuated, and the area was cordoned off, the military’s media wing added.
Earlier, the provincial home minister Ziaullah Langu said four gunmen had “opened fire” on the hotel. “There are reports of a few people sustaining minor injuries,” the minister added.
Mohammad Aslam, an on-duty officer in Gwadar, said he could hear gunfire but that the operation was coming to an end. “There were no Chinese or Pakistani guests in the hotel”, he said, adding that only staff was present in the building.
The hotel, located on the Koh-e-Batil Hill near Fish Harbour Road, is frequented by both business and leisure travellers.Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal strongly condemned the terrorist attack. He ordered security forces to ensure the protection of lives of guests staying at the hotel and other areas of the province.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Ahsan Iqbal also condemned the terrorist attack.
Gwadar is the heart of CPEC, he said, pointing the finger at the government for the security lapse.
Iqbal said security arrangements should have been beefed up in the wake of the Makran Coastal Highway attack.
Firing took place at the Pearl Continental (PC) Hotel in Gwadar after three to four armed militants stormed the facility this afternoon, according to Gwadar Station House Officer (SHO) Aslam Bangulzai.South Punjab News reported
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the terrorists attempted to force their way into the five-star hotel and were challenged by the security guard, who was fired at and embraced martyrdom.
The assailants were encircled in the staircase of the top floor, and a “clearance operation is in progress”.
Guests were safely evacuated, and the area was cordoned off, the military’s media wing added.
Earlier, the provincial home minister Ziaullah Langu said four gunmen had “opened fire” on the hotel. “There are reports of a few people sustaining minor injuries,” the minister added.
Mohammad Aslam, an on-duty officer in Gwadar, said he could hear gunfire but that the operation was coming to an end. “There were no Chinese or Pakistani guests in the hotel”, he said, adding that only staff was present in the building.
The hotel, located on the Koh-e-Batil Hill near Fish Harbour Road, is frequented by both business and leisure travellers.Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal strongly condemned the terrorist attack. He ordered security forces to ensure the protection of lives of guests staying at the hotel and other areas of the province.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Ahsan Iqbal also condemned the terrorist attack.
Gwadar is the heart of CPEC, he said, pointing the finger at the government for the security lapse.
Iqbal said security arrangements should have been beefed up in the wake of the Makran Coastal Highway attack.
Firing took place at the Pearl Continental (PC) Hotel in Gwadar after three to four armed militants stormed the facility this afternoon, according to Gwadar Station House Officer (SHO) Aslam Bangulzai.South Punjab News reported
"At around 4:50 pm we got reports that there are three to four armed men in PC Hotel," the SHO said, adding that "the firing is ongoing but there are no reports of any casualties yet".
The police official further said that "there are no foreigners at the hotel right now."
SHO Bangulzai said that "additional police force, ATF (Anti-terrorism force) and army are all present" at the hotel to handle the situation.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohsin Hassan Butt also confirmed that "two to three gunmen had first fired at and then entered the hotel."
The IGP said the hotel did not have any foreigners at the time of the attack and that only the hotel staff was inside. He also said that "95 per cent of the hotel has been evacuated."
IGP Butt 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, South Punjab News reported citing police sources.
The banned terrorist group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack. “Our fighters have carried out this attack on Chinese and other foreign investors who were staying in PC hotel,” said Jihand Baloch, a BLA spokesperson, in a statement emailed to Al Jazeera.
The banned terrorist group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack. “Our fighters have carried out this attack on Chinese and other foreign investors who were staying in PC hotel,” said Jihand Baloch, a BLA spokesperson, in a statement emailed to Al Jazeera.
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 travellers.
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.
