Category: 1. Pakistan

Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi has urged the international community to recognize that developing countries like Pakistan are paying the highest price for terrorism and climate change, despite the crisis being caused largely by developed nations.
 
He said this while addressing a luncheon hosted in his honor by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Belgium President Malik Ajmal, attended by a large number of Pakistani community members residing in Belgium on Thursday.
 
In his speech, Governor Kundi said that after decades of terrorism, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is now facing the devastating impacts of climate change and floods.
 
“The world must realize that developing countries like Pakistan are suffering the most because of the actions of developed nations,” he stressed.
 
He lauded the Sindh government for always standing by KP in difficult times, adding that it was once again extending support to flood-affected families.

He said that as head of the Red Crescent Society, he was personally monitoring relief activities across the province.

Criticizing deforestation, Governor Kundi said natural disasters had worsened due to the unchecked cutting of forests. “I could not find the so-called Billion Tree Tsunami anywhere today,” he remarked.
 
Turning to security, he said peace could not be restored without intelligence-based operations, as terrorists do not recognize dialogue.
 
“Terrorists are equipped with modern weapons; the police alone cannot fight them,” he said, recalling that peace in Swat was achieved during the PPP government through a military operation.
 
He accused the previous government of bringing back militants, who are now again taking up arms.
 
Highlighting financial issues, he said that although KP received Rs. 700 billion under the NFC Award, the provincial government had failed to answer where the funds were spent.
 
He reminded that at the time of FATA’s merger, it was promised that Rs. 100 billion would be spent annually, but the commitment was never fulfilled, leaving the former tribal districts deprived of basic facilities.
 
Governor Kundi reiterated that peace was the province’s foremost challenge, accusing militants of receiving support from India and Afghanistan.
 
He said Pakistan was trying to resolve issues with Afghanistan at all levels through dialogue, while urging anti-state elements to lay down their arms.
 
On social welfare, he said that more than 10 million people were benefiting from the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), which, he said, embodied the slogan of “Roti, Kapra aur Makaan.”
 
Discussing politics, Governor Kundi said that Parliament was being weakened by politicians themselves.
 
He said that the Chief Election Commissioner had been appointed by the previous government, adding that political differences should be settled through politics, not by targeting state institutions.
 
Speaking on foreign relations, he said India was humbled by Pakistan’s armed forces and praised PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for effectively presenting Pakistan’s case on the international stage. “PPP can never forget the Kashmir cause,” he emphasized.
 
He also recalled that despite not having a majority, PPP succeeded in passing the NFC Award and the 18th Amendment through consensus.
 
“In the new NFC, we will fight for a greater share for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he vowed, expressing optimism that Pakistan was moving in the right direction.
 
Governor Kundi acknowledged the valuable role of overseas Pakistanis, saying they had always stood with the country in testing times.

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — An explosion at a fireworks storage facility in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi on Thursday injured at least 25 people, some of them critically, police and hospital officials said.

Television footage showed thick smoke billowing into the sky from the building where firecrackers were stored. Broken glass from nearby shop windows littered the road as panicked residents rushed from the scene, witnesses said.

Firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze while ambulances transported the injured, including passersby, to several hospitals, senior police official Asad Raza said.

The blast damaged several shops and vehicles passing through an area known as Jinnah Road.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear.

Explosions at fireworks facilities are common in Pakistan. In January, six people were killed in a similar blast at a fireworks storage site in Mandi Bahauddin, a city in the eastern Punjab province.

China and Pakistan said their “friendship is significant” for maintaining regional peace and stability as the two Asian nations held strategic talks to strengthen decades-old political and economic ties.

China’s foreign minister Wang Yi met with his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Thursday and the two officials “agreed to continue close coordination and communication,” according to a Pakistan’s foreign ministry statement at the end of the sixth round of Foreign Minister’s Strategic Dialogue.

At least two people were killed and 33 were injured when a massive explosion took place inside a warehouse in a densely populated area near Karachi’s Taj Medical Complex on Thursday afternoon, according to police and hospital officials.

Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed told Dawn.com that 20 injured people were brought to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, including two with critical wounds, while 14 other men were brought to the trauma centre at Civil Hospital Karachi, with two in critical condition.

“The condition of other wounded persons is being evaluated,” she said. Later in the day, she said the police brought the body of a 16-year-old who was found dead at the last level of the warehouse. A statement from Rescue 1122 also confirmed the body’s retrieval.

In a subsequent update, she said: “One critical patient has unfortunately expired.”

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan told Dawn.com that there was a three-storey building near Taj Medical Complex in Saddar where families resided on upper floors, while the facility was situated in the basement.

“Raw material used for the preparation of firecrackers was stored [in this facility],” Khan said. “During the initial probe, it was suspected that a short circuit triggered a fire in the store and a huge explosion took place because of the presence of highly inflammable material.”

The spokesperson added that the building’s pillars and walls were damaged, while thick concrete blocks had fallen on parked vehicles nearby. Windows in nearby buildings were also smashed.

“Twelve fire tenders from KMC’s Fire Brigade and Rescue-1122 were engaged in firefighting,” he stated. “Due to the presence of explosive material, the fire reignited frequently. Firefighters were facing difficulties as there was dense smoke emanating from the basement.”

Khan said that the fire was 60-70 per cent under control and efforts were underway to control it.

However, Counter-Terrorism Department senior official Raja Umer Khattab told reporters at the scene that the facility contained explosive material, not raw material for fireworks.

“CTD had seized two tons of explosive material in this area in the recent past,” he said, noting that the raw material in fireworks could also be used in bombs.

“As per the relevant laws, up to 50 kilogrammes of firecracker material may be stored in a shop with certain conditions and SOPs (standard operating procedures) in place,” Khattab said.

“Facilities storing firecracker material should be kept away from petrol pumps and residential areas. The deputy commissioner and other authorities concerned may issue licenses to this effect.”

The CTD official said that firecrackers and fireworks were both imported and manufactured in Pakistan. In Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, only license holders could manufacture firecrackers or import them.

Khattab claimed that there was no “industry or factory for manufacturing firecrackers” in Sindh and estimated that more than 50kg of material might have been stored in the basement of the building. He termed the presence of such quantities of explosive material in residential areas “a highly dangerous thing”.

“People do not consider it dangerous as they just call it firecrackers,” lamented the CTD official. “This shop or godown was illegally established in a residential area, which caused substantial damage to human life and property.”

A statement issued by the Karachi Traffic Police said MA Jinnah Road has been closed to traffic due to the fire, with traffic coming from Numaish being diverted towards Society Signal and Ali Raza Imambargah.

The traffic police directed citizens to call the Traffic Police helpline at 1915 for alternate route options “to avoid inconvenience”.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and ordered authorities to ensure that the blaze is brought under control and that no lives are lost.

Per a statement, the CM ordered the Karachi commissioner to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured and submit a detailed report to his office once the fire is controlled.

“There is no permission to produce materials near cities or populated areas which can cause damage,” CM Murad was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, the Sindh Home Department issued a statement today claiming that 20 people were injured in the blaze, while Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar directed police reinforcements to head to the scene.

“Police reinforcements should be sent to rescue the injured and transfer them quickly to the nearest hospital,” Lanjar was quoted as saying. “An investigation must be completed and a report submitted soon.”

The home minister also ordered that authorities include statements from the injured and evidence from the scene in their investigation.

“It should be checked immediately whether the firework factory has a licence or not,” Lanjar was quoted as saying.

Fires frequently erupt in buildings across Pakistan due to a mix of poor infrastructure, weak enforcement of safety regulations, and widespread negligence. Many structures lack proper fire exits, alarms, and emergency protocols, while faulty wiring and overloaded power systems increase the risk of electrical short circuits.

Earlier this month, a massive blaze at a factory in the Karachi Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) near Landhi that injured eight people and damaged at least three other factories was brought under control after hours of efforts.

In June, a fire erupted in Karachi’s Millennium Mall, ostensibly due to an electrical short circuit, and destroyed several hundred shops, causing substantial financial losses. It was brought under control after hectic efforts lasting several hours.

At least 34 men were injured when a massive explosion took place inside a warehouse in a densely populated area near Karachi’s Taj Medical Complex on Thursday afternoon, according to police and hospital officials.

Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed told Dawn.com that 20 injured people were brought to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, including two with critical wounds, while 14 other men were brought to the trauma centre at Civil Hospital Karachi, with two in critical condition.

“The condition of other wounded persons is being evaluated,” she said.

Rescue-1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan told Dawn.com that there was a three-storey building near Taj Medical Complex in Saddar where families resided on upper floors, while the facility was situated in the basement.

“Raw material used for the preparation of firecrackers was stored [in this facility],” Khan said. “During the initial probe, it was suspected that a short circuit triggered a fire in the store and a huge explosion took place because of the presence of highly inflammable material.”

The spokesperson added that the building’s pillars and walls were damaged, while thick concrete blocks had fallen on parked vehicles nearby. Windows in nearby buildings were also smashed.

“Twelve fire tenders from KMC’s Fire Brigade and Rescue-1122 were engaged in firefighting,” he stated. “Due to the presence of explosive material, the fire reignited frequently. Firefighters were facing difficulties as there was dense smoke emanating from the basement.”

Khan said that the fire was 60-70 per cent under control and efforts were underway to control it.

However, Counter-Terrorism Department senior official Raja Umer Khattab told reporters at the scene that the facility contained explosive material, not raw material for fireworks.

“CTD had seized two tons of explosive material in this area in the recent past,” he said, noting that the raw material in fireworks could also be used in bombs.

“As per the relevant laws, up to 50 kilogrammes of firecracker material may be stored in a shop with certain conditions and SOPs (standard operating procedures) in place,” Khattab said.

“Facilities storing firecracker material should be kept away from petrol pumps and residential areas. The deputy commissioner and other authorities concerned may issue licenses to this effect.”

The CTD official said that firecrackers and fireworks were both imported and manufactured in Pakistan. In Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, only license holders could manufacture firecrackers or import them.

Khattab claimed that there was no “industry or factory for manufacturing firecrackers” in Sindh and estimated that more than 50kg of material might have been stored in the basement of the building. He termed the presence of such quantities of explosive material in residential areas “a highly dangerous thing”.

“The people do not consider it dangerous as they just call it firecrackers,” lamented the CTD official. “This shop or godown was illegally established in a residential area, which caused substantial damage to human life and property.”

According to a statement issued by the Karachi Traffic Police, MA Jinnah Road is closed to traffic due to the fire, with traffic coming from Numaish being diverted towards Society Signal and Ali Raza Imambargah.

The traffic police directed citizens to call the Traffic Police helpline at 1915 for alternate route options “to avoid inconvenience”.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and ordered authorities to ensure that the blaze is brought under control and that no lives are lost.

According to a statement, the CM ordered the Karachi commissioner to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured and submit a detailed report to his office once the fire is controlled.

“There is no permission to produce materials near cities or populated areas which can cause damage,” CM Murad was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, the Sindh Home Department issued a statement today claiming that 20 people were injured in the blaze, while Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar directed police reinforcements to head to the scene.

“Police reinforcements should be sent to rescue the injured and transfer them quickly to the nearest hospital,” Lanjar was quoted as saying. “An investigation must be completed and a report submitted soon.”

The home minister also ordered that authorities include statements from the injured and evidence from the scene in their investigation.

“It should be checked immediately whether the firework factory has a license or not,” Lanjar was quoted as saying.

Fires frequently erupt in buildings across Pakistan due to a mix of poor infrastructure, weak enforcement of safety regulations, and widespread negligence. Many structures lack proper fire exits, alarms, and emergency protocols, while faulty wiring and overloaded power systems increase the risk of electrical short circuits.

Earlier this month, a massive blaze at a factory in the Karachi Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) near Landhi that injured eight people and damaged at least three other factories was brought under control after hours of efforts.

In June, a fire erupted in Karachi’s Millennium Mall, ostensibly due to an electrical short circuit, and destroyed several hundred shops, causing substantial financial losses. It was brought under control after hectic efforts lasting several hours.

Military spokesperson Lieutenant-General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry clarified on Thursday that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir did not seek an apology from anyone over the May 9, 2023 riots, saying the perpetrators should be “held accountable”, Geo News reported.

The remarks come days after it was reported that the army chief had sought an apology over the 2023 countrywide protests — apparently from the PTI, which the state holds responsible for the May 9 riots.

Suhail Warraich, a senior editor for the Daily Jang newspaper, wrote in a column on August 16 that COAS Munir had spoken to him in person recently in Belgium’s capital of Brussels, where the army chief had stopped over on his return from his visit to the United States.

“On a question about politics, he (the army chief) said that political reconciliation is possible only if there is a sincere apology,” the column read, without specifying who the army chief was referring to or who the question was about.

“Neither did the army chief make any political statement in Brussels, nor did he mention any apology,” Geo News quoted Lt-Gen Chaudhry as saying today.

Lt-Gen Chaudhry, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director general, was speaking to reporters after an event in Islamabad.

The DG ISPR was further reported as saying that the army chief “did not say anything about the PTI”.

Lt-Gen Chaudhry asserted: “May 9 is not only the military’s case but the nation’s case. It is clear that those who carried out the May 9 [riots], their enablers and planners should be held accountable as per the law.”

“There were hundreds of people present at the Brussels event. Those attending the event had their pictures taken with the field marshal,” the DG ISPR noted.

He also termed Pakistan a “country that changes the region’s destinies”, according to the report. “This is the reason why it is frequently attacked. The youth should understand the legacy and history of their ideological state,” he said.

Following the report about the army chief’s Brussels talk, the PTI reiterated its demand for an empowered judicial commission to probe the May 9 riots, the November 26 protest incident, and the 2024 general elections.

The military considers the PTI the “planners and architects” of the May 9 riots and, in May 2024, demanded an apology from PTI founder Imran Khan, who in turn claimed that the army owes an apology to him since he was “abducted” by the Rangers on May 9.

However, days later, he offered to apologise on the condition that the involvement of PTI supporters in the violent protests was proved through CCTV evidence. Scores of PTI leaders have recently been convicted in cases over the riots and disqualified.

Earlier this month, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Industries Rana Ihsaan Afzal said the government would be able to consider a pardon for Imran if he were to issue an apology for his “crimes”.

In June, Imran’s sister Aleem Khan claimed that the ex-premier had been asked several times to apologise for the May 9 violent protests.