Category: 1. Pakistan

• Children taken to DHQ Hospital Hattian Bala, THQ Hospital Chikar.
• Van driver, two children in critical condition: SP Mirza Zahid.
• Accident occurs near Chikar hill station in Neelum Valley.
  

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MUZAFFARABAD: At least 25 schoolchildren and a driver sustained injuries after a van fell into a gorge near Chikar hill station in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) Neelum Valley.

The AJK police said that the injured children and van driver were shifted to the hospital. According to the Superintendent Police (SP) Mirza Zahid, the van driver and two children are in critical condition.

The affected children were taken to the DHQ Hospital Hattian Bala and Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital Chikar.

Road accidents are common in the country’s mountainous regions, largely due to poor driving skills, lack of safety measures, challenging terrain, and derelict road infrastructure.

Buses and trucks are normally filled beyond their capacities with passengers which also cause vehicles to overturn.

In May, five policemen including Assistant Director Zakir Awan and IG’s Reader Ali Bukhari died in a horrific accident after their car fell into a ravine in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Dhirkot tehsil.

The incident took place in Lasdana, a tourist destination in AJK’s Bagh district, in which five cops lost their lives. Policemen Fahim, SHO Naveed and Inspector Yasir Kiani were also among the deceased, according to Bagh deputy commissioner.

According to official statistics, traffic accidents in Pakistan dropped by over 33% in 2024 if compared with 2023.

A total of 6,233 traffic accidents took place countrywide in 2024 among which 4,231 were fatal traffic accidents. In 2023, a total number of 9,333 road accidents took place across the country among which 3,820 were fatal traffic accidents.

In Azad Jammu Kashmir, 409 road accidents were reported among which 111 were fatal accidents and 298 were non-fatal accidents. In 2023, AJK reported a total of 391 road accidents where 115 were fatal and 276 were non-fatal accidents.

An Islamabad court ordered the blocking of 27 YouTube channels for allegedly airing anti-state content and spreading “false, misleading and fake” information, it emerged on Tuesday.

The federal government established the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to probe illegal activities on social med­ia. The NCCIA, operating under the Interior Divi­sion, has a key role in combatting cybercrime in Pakistan.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Waseem Khan of the NCCIA’s Cyber Crime Circle informed the Islamabad judicial magistrate on June 24 that under Section 37 (unlawful online content) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, the department was conducting an inquiry regarding 27 “Youtube channels who are involved in disseminating and propagating fake and misleading information against the state Institutions which is likely to cause fear, panic, disorder or unrest in the general public or society along with defamatory and fake remarks/information, which violates the privacy and harms the dignity of the officials of state institutions”.

Among the 27 channels are those of the PTI, journalists Matiuallah Jan, Wajahat Khan, Ahmad Noorani and Asad Ali Toor; former anchors Imran Riaz, Orya Maqbool, Sabir Shakir, and Moeed Pirzada .

He further said that the YouTube channels were “found involved in sharing highly intimidating, provocative and derogatory contents against state institutions and officials of state of Pakistan” and were a “source of publicly disseminating/propagating false, misleading and fake information against the state institutions/officials”.

He said that through their channels, the suspects had “attempted to provoke the general public and armed forces personnel by trying to create a feeling of ill-will among pillars of the state”.

SI Khan had requested the court to issue a warrant/subpoena to Google to remove/block the 27 YouTube channels.

Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Abbas Shah’s June 24 order, available with Dawn.com, said he had heard the inquiry officer (IO) and examined the record on file.

“In the light of facts explained and evidence presented by the IO, this court is convinced that the subject matter constitutes offences punishable under the Peca and penal laws of Pakistan.”

He ordered the “head officer in charge of the security department/custodian of records” to Google block/remove the 27 YouTube channels.

Earlier today, Toor said he had received a notice from YouTube, informing him about the legal request received to remove his channel. “You may choose to act on the said content in terms of the aforesaid court order. If you fail to do so, as per our local law obligations, we may comply with the request without further notice to you,” the notice said.

Farhan Mallick, the founder of media agency Raftar and a former news director at Samaa TV, was arrested on March 20 in Karachi and booked under Peca as well as the Pakistan Penal Code in a case related to alleged anti-state content on his YouTube channel.

The arrest was met with widespread criticism from media bodies as well as rights activists.

He was granted bail in April in the many cases against him pertaining to allegedly “anti-state” content and data theft through a call centre.

Aleema Khan, sister of imprisoned PTI founder Imran Khan, Tuesday stated that the party will unveil its protest plan after 10th Muharram, adding that the strategy has already been devised by the former Prime Minister himself, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Speaking to the media at Gorakhpur checkpoint, Aleema said, “The founder has made the plan. Our family discussed it during a meeting last week, and when the time comes, we will share it with the media.” She said the PTI’s protest movement is being carefully timed and managed, and not dictated by media demands.

“Whether we start from Peshawar or go to Lahore, the party will announce it,” she said, urging the public to “trust us, it will be better.”

She also stated that Imran Khan will lead the protest movement from jail, and that he considers himself “free behind bars”, while those outside are “the real prisoners.”

Aleema urged citizens to “come out for themselves – for democracy, rule of law, and against the 26th Amendment,” signaling PTI’s growing resistance to the political order under the current government.

Aleema also accused the ruling PML-N of suppressing dissent to appease Maryam Nawaz, saying, “We are being stopped to fulfill Maryam Nawaz’s desires. They suspended 26 members just to please her. But we are not in her control.”

Meanwhile, Noreen Niazi, another sister of the PTI founder, shared details after meeting Imran Khan in jail.

“Thank God the meeting happened. He is physically fine, but mentally being isolated,” she said.

She alleged that Imran Khan has been denied access to newspapers and TV for a week, adding, “He has nothing to read or write. What’s happening to him isn’t done to any prisoner.”

 Reporter: Irshad Qureshi

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon said on Tuesday that it is not possible for the provincial government to provide housing for all residents displaced after 11 buildings were classified as hazardous and evacuated. 

Speaking on a news segment aired on a private TV channel, the minister said that around 740 buildings across Sindh have been declared unsafe, with at least 51 classified as extremely dangerous. Eleven buildings of the latter category were evacuated, he added. 

However, the provincial government would offer temporary housing to some families, similar to previous efforts undertaken for flood and COVID-19 victims, said Memon. 

The minister apprised that the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has begun demolishing unsafe structures near the collapsed structure of the five-storey building in Lyari’s Baghdadi area, which claimed at least 27 lives. 

Sindh Local Government  Saeed Ghani had announced that each affected family would be given Rs one million as compensation.

Read: Govt moves to demolish unsafe buildings after Lyari collapse

The provincial government subsequently suspended the SBCA’s director-general and suspended officials from the regulatory body in-charge of the area. 

Plots in compensation

Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori announced on Tuesday that 80-yard plots will be given to affected families from Lyari building collapse.

Speaking to the media in Karachi, Tessori said, “I have arrived in Karachi today and, without wasting time, I have come to Lyari. I will send all my suggestions regarding this tragedy to the Sindh government through a letter”.

Tessori emphasised that the building collapse was no minor incident. “There will be no silence on this matter, and those responsible will be held accountable,” he said, acknowledging the efforts of Sindh ministers Ghani and Nabil Gabol thus far. 

He urged the provincial government to provide six months’ rent and relocation in the same area for now evacuated residents of the 11 hazardous buildings. 

Tessori assured that the Governor House would remain active in ensuring support for the victims and offer essential resources such as ration and employment opportunities. 

The governor extended his support to the aggreived families, many of whom hail from the Hindu community, and apprised that a helpline, 1133, has been set up for assistance. 

 

At least 29 schoolchildren and their driver were injured after a van plunged off a treacherous hilly road in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Tuesday, police said.

Fatal accidents are common on roads in the mountainous regions of the country due to traffic rule violations, treacherous terrain and poor infrastructure.

The van, carrying boys and girls from the private Islamia Public School in Chikar, was returning students to their homes when it met with the accident near a spot known as Tambrial Mor, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mirza Zahid Hussain told Dawn.com.

Chikar, a town and hill station in AJK’s Jhelum Valley district, is situated at an altitude of 5,272 feet above sea level and lies about 46 kilometres from Muzaffarabad, the state capital.

As a winter resort, Chikar’s educational institutions do not observe extended summer vacations, unlike other areas.

“It is assumed that after negotiating a bend, the vehicle went out of the driver’s control and fell down the road, causing injuries to almost everyone on board,” the SSP said.

He said 16 people that were rushed to Chikar Tehsil Headquarters Hospital were later allowed to go home after treatment while of the 13 students hospitalised in Haitian Bala District Headquarters Hospital, two were kept there, and four others, including the driver, were referred to the Muzaffarabad Combined Military Hospital owing to their serious wounds.

“The rest of the school children were sent home,” he said.

A video clip shared by the SSP showed the overturned van resting on a steep, forested slope, surrounded by local residents rushing to help.

“Had it not been for the tall trees that broke the fall, the van could have rolled further down the slope, resulting in heavier losses,” the SSP said.

Last week, six members of a family were killed in AJK’s Neelum valley when their car veered off the road and plummeted hundreds of feet, crashing onto the right bank of the river, officials had said.

In May, an assistant director, three inspectors and a constable of the AJK police lost their lives when their vehicle plunged into a deep ravine in the Poonch division.

At least four people, including a woman, lost their lives in a devastating house fire that erupted near Kochi Bazaar in Peshawar, Rescue 1122 officials confirmed on Monday.

Bilal Ahmad Faizi, spokesperson for Rescue 1122, said the blaze broke out in a residential building adjacent to the market, prompting an immediate response from firefighters and ambulances.

A total of six people were reported to be trapped inside.

Rescue teams managed to pull three individuals at first from the burning structure. Two firefighters fainted due to smoke inhalation and fatigue during the rescue operation.

All rescued individuals, including the affected firefighters, were shifted to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.

Despite the swift intervention, four people were pronounced dead. The deceased were identified as Riaz, Shehnaz, Rafiq and his wife.

Rescue operations involved six fire vehicles and over 40 personnel working to douse the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby shops and homes.

Firefighters encountered significant challenges due to the house being situated in a densely populated area with narrow lanes.

Following strenuous efforts, rescue officials confirmed that the fire had been contained and cooling operations were in progress.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

 

Rescue operation completed on Sunday with 27 people dead

Updated On: Tue, 08 Jul 2025

19:38:08 PKT

KARACHI (Dunya News) – Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori on Tuesday announced the allocation of 80-square-yard plots for the families of those killed in the Lyari building collapse incident.

Calling the tragedy deeply painful, he also announced ration supplies for the displaced places in the Lyari incident.

Speaking to the media, the governor took aim at the Sindh government, stating development work has not been completed in the residential project over the past 20 years.

He highlighted that delays in government housing schemes which force citizens to opt for private portions, noting that no development has occurred in Scheme 42, Taiser Town, for two decades.

Tessori revealed that the Director-General of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has been suspended, but emphasized that merely changing the faces would not fix the system.

“The SBCA system needs an overhaul. This is not about political point-scoring; this is our city,” he said.

Assuring the people of Lyari, the governor pledged not to disappoint them and urged affected families to register at the Governor’s House.

He vowed to raise the issue in the assembly and welcomed the provincial chief minister’s decision to form a committee to investigate the collapse, adding that its outcomes will be closely monitored.

Tessori also called on the Sindh government to provide six months’ rent and houses in the same area for the displaced families, alongside ration support for those rendered homeless.

Governor should have come to Karachi immediately: Sindh Govt spox

Meanwhile, the government spokesperson Sadia Javed remarked that the governor’s visit to the incident site after five days was appreciated, but he should have traveled from Islamabad to Karachi immediately. “The people of Karachi were in distress,” she said.

Javed urged the governor not to make promises he cannot fulfill, stressing that this was a time for action, not politics. She appreciated Tessori’s acknowledgment of the Sindh government’s efforts.

The spokesperson questioned the absence of welfare organisations frequently seen at the Governor’s House but absent in Lyari.

She added that operations against dilapidated buildings have begun in Lyari and will expand citywide, signaling the start of systemic reforms. 

Rescue operation completed with 27 confirmed dead

The rescue operation following the collapse of a five-storey building in Karachi’s Lyari area concluded on Sunday, with the death toll rising to 27.

The debris has been cleared from the site in the Baghdadi area of Lyari, where heavy machinery was employed to remove the rubble. According to rescue officials, 27 bodies were recovered from the collapsed structure. Of the 11 injured, 10 have been discharged from hospital after receiving medical treatment, while one remains under care.

The final victim retrieved from the wreckage was that of a young man named Zaid. Among the deceased are three children, nine wome, and 15 men.

The incident took place on Friday in the Baghdadi area of Lyari, bringing down the entire structure and causing damage to adjacent buildings. Rescue teams managed to pull out 10 people alive from the debris. Emergency response teams — including Rescue 1122, police, and Rangers — reached the scene promptly and launched relief efforts. Heavy machinery is being used to clear the rubble and aid search operations.