KARACHI: Two Chinese nationals were shot at and wounded by a private security guard in a textile mill in the SITE area in what investigators suspected as a targeted attack on Tuesday morning.

`This morning, two Chinese nationals were injured in Karachi as a result of a firing incident following a dispute with a private guard. The injured were immediately taken to hospital and were under treatment,` said the Foreign Office Spokesperson in a statement released in Islamabad.

However, sources told Dawn that the Chinese nationals arrived at the textile mill at around 8am from their residence in DHA amid strict security. They went to the first floor of the industrial unit for inspection / installation of machines, which the management had procured from China.

The sources said that they were busy in their work when a security guard, identified as Sharifullah, entered the factory premises, went to the first floor and started indiscriminate firing on the Chinese nationals with his pistol and fled.

DIG-South Syed Asad Raza said that the wounded foreigners were shifted to a private hospital, where condition of one of them was said to be critical.

The sources said that the man in critical condition suffered six bullet wounds while another sustained two bullet injuries.

They said that investigators collected 15 spent bullet casings from the crime scene.

The sources said that it appeared to be a targeted attack but nothing `credible` could be said about the exact motive at this stage.

They described the suspect as a `lone wolf` and said he originally hailed from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The DIG told the media that the incident took place after a verbal altercation between the two sides, but it needed further confirmation.

He said it was the responsibility of the management to ensure security inside the factory.

He said a supervisor and three guards of the private security company had been detained for questioning and efforts were underway to arrest the guard involved in shooting.

The DIG said the suspect`s residence had been traced and investigators were collecting information about him from his neighbours.

Firing incident under investigation, says FO In a statement issued in the evening inIslamabad, the Foreign Office said that the firing incident in Karachi was under investigation and Pakistan remained resolute in bringing to justice the responsible individual.

`We extend our sympathies to the families of the injured and offer prayers for their swift recovery. Pakistan and China are close partners and iron-brothers, united by a bond of mutual respect and shared destiny,` said FO spokesperson.

The spokesperson said that the ministry of foreign affairs was in close contact with the interior ministry and the Chinese embassy in Islamabad.

The spokesperson further said that Pakistan reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions in Pakistan.

Audit of security firms ordered Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar sought a detailed report from the police regarding the incident.

He also directed the authorities to conduct an audit of private security companies that provided guards to Chinese experts/nationals and otherforeigners.

He said that mental and physical fitness ofall such guards must be evaluated and only trained and `completely fit` persons should be hired for the security of foreigners.

The home minister also directed a crackdown on `unregistered and illegal` security companies.

Citing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for security of Chinese nationals, the sources said that the verification of police and Rangers personnel deployed for the se curity of foreigners was the responsibility of Intelligence Bureau.

They said that verification of private security guards hired for the security of Chinese nationals was the responsibility of the Special Branch of the Sindh police.

However, it was being ascertained as to whether the Special Branch had conducted verification of the private guards deployed for the security of the Chinese in the textile mills.

The sources said the suspect belonged to the Executive Security Services, which had provided 100 security guards to the said textile mill.

They blamed the management of the industrial unit and the private security company for certain security lapses as the incident occurred on their premises and that the suspect managed to escape easily as no one locked the main gate to stop him.