QUETTA – The Chinese ambassador to Pakistan was not in Serena hotel whenthe suicide attack occurred, Chinese embassy in Pakistan clarified Thursday.

Chinese embassy, while refuting the presence of its ambassador, mentionedthat Nong Rong was not in the hotel premises when it was targeted by asuicide bomber on Wednesday. It further added that Rong was in Balochistancapital leading a visit to the delegation the same day.

A statement issued in this regard said ‘when the attack occurred, theChinese delegation was not in the hotel. Till present, no reports ofcasualties of Chinese citizens in the attack have been received.’

Nong Rong also shared a tweet on Thursday (today), “Impressive visit ofRashakai Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and effective communication with allstakeholders in regard to the SEZ to secure its development and growth”,the caption reads.

Meanwhile, China strongly denounced the terror attack, offering condolencesover the loss of lives in the bomb blast.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed while speaking in a national presserclarified that the Chinese ambassador was not in the hotel at the time ofthe explosion. The blast was a suicide bomb attack.

Rasheed further said that out of the 11 injured, six had left the hospitalafter getting basic treatment while the rest are in hospital, out of whichonly three are in a critical state.