Reacting to the attack on Serena Hotel in Quetta, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that he would not allow the scourge of terrorism to rise again, adding the country paid a high price in defeating it. 

The attack in Pakistan’s restive Baluchistan province had killed at least five people and wounded a dozen. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack. 

Taking to Twitter, Khan wrote, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of innocent lives in the condemnable and cowardly terrorist attack in Quetta yesterday. Our nation has made great sacrifices in defeating terrorism. We will not allow this scourge again.”

He added that the country remained alert to all internal and external threats. The report in The Express Tribune said that Khan was monitoring the situation at the time of the attack, and directed the officials of the Interior Ministry to investigate all angles. 

Significantly, that TTP on Thursday issued a statement denying that they were targeting the Chinese ambassador. Earlier media reports were suggesting that high-ranking Chinese officials might be on target.  

However, it wasn’t clear if the Chinese envoy was present at the hotel at the time of the attack. The Baluchistan home minister denied the claim contrary to several media reports confirming his presence there.