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Pakistani militants take hostages in Karachi base revenge attack; ten soldiers killed

Mon, 23 May 2011 21:13:31 GMT

Monday, May 23, 2011

Pakistan

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	It was the revenge of martyrdom of Osama bin Laden. It was the proof that we are still united and powerful.
—Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan spokesman

Pakistani militants killed ten soldiers and injured fifteen more during an attack on PNS Mehran, a military base in Karachi, in a revenge strike after the killing of Osama bin Laden. Commandos have cleared the base of militants; three of the attackers were reported also to have been killed. The militants reportedly took hostages inside the base but officials said they all had been rescued unharmed.

Military forces continued to fight off the militants on Monday morning, hours after the attack began the night before when as many as twenty militants stormed hangars at the base and used rocket-propelled grenades to destroy a number of military aircraft, including a P-3C Orion. Witnesses reported hearing a number of loud explosions and heavy gunfire as the militants continued to attack the base. "They were carrying guns, rocket-propelled grenades and hand grenades," a spokesperson for the Pakistan navy said. Yusuf Raza Gilani, the prime minister, said the attack was a "cowardly act of terror".

Reports last night indicated hostages may have been taken at the base, but officials have confirmed all foreigners at the base are safe and any hostages taken have been freed. Commandos moved in after the attack begun and fighting continued throughout the night, and more loud explosions and gunfire were heard in the base on Monday morning.

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the attack; a spokesperson said it was a revenge attack for the killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. special forces earlier this month. "It was the revenge of martyrdom of Osama bin Laden," the spokesperson said. "It was the proof that we are still united and powerful." The group warned after the death of bin Laden that they would attack Pakistani military targets.

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Sources [edit]

"Pakistan: Militants attack Karachi naval air base" — BBC News Online, May 23, 2011
Declan Walsh. "Militants attack Pakistani naval base in Karachi" — The Guardian, May 23, 2011

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Four killed in militant attack on Karachi military base

Sun, 22 May 2011 20:24:35 GMT

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Pakistan

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25 January 2013: Mumbai 2008 attack plotter sentenced to 35 years
4 January 2013: Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai discharged from hospital
10 September 2012: Pakistani footballer Abdul Ghafoor dies aged 71
23 May 2012: Twitter restored in Pakistan after block over Muhammad images
17 April 2012: Supreme Court of Pakistan criticizes authorities over Bhutto murder

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At least four people have been killed in a militant attack on a Pakistani military base in Karachi. Explosions and gunfire were heard inside the base during the latest militant attack since U.S. forces killed Osama bin Laden in a raid on his compound in the country earlier this month.

Officials said as many as twenty militants may have attacked PNS Mehran in Karachi, the largest city in the country, and confirmed four had been injured and five wounded. Reports indicate Pakistani forces at the base are fighting back against the attackers; one military aircraft has been destroyed.

There are likely to be questions over how militants were able to infiltrate the base, even after warnings from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan that there will be reprisal attacks for the killing of Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, in Pakistan this month. A spokesperson for the militant group said they would launch attacks on Pakistani military forces to avenge the terrorist leader.

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Sources [edit]

"Pakistan: 'Militants' attack Karachi naval air base" — BBC News Online, May 22, 2011
"At least 4 killed in attack on Pakistani naval base" — Reuters, May 22, 2011

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Revenge killings follow shooting of Karachi politician

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 00:29:04 GMT

Pakistan

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17 April 2012: Supreme Court of Pakistan criticizes authorities over Bhutto murder

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Saturday, August 7, 2010

Businesses remained closed for a second day on Wednesday in the Pakistani financial capital of Karachi, to mourn Raza Haider, a leading politician of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), assassinated on Monday. Nineteen people were killed on Tuesday in revenge killings, bringing the death toll to 49 over two days. Twenty-five shops and a number of vehicles including trucks and buses were burned in a series of arson attacks across the city.

Haider was gunned down while attending a funeral near the centre of the city. An officer at the Nazimabad police station said "[t]he number of attackers and the mode of their transport are not clear, but initial investigations suggest that there were more than two people who came on a motorcycle and they were probably backed by armed men in a car. They first shot at the legislator’s guard Khalid Khan and then entered the mosque and fired at Mr Haider who was in the ablution room."

Following the first night of revenge attacks and arson the MQM accused its main political rival, the Awami National Party (ANP), of supporting the Islamist militants suspected of the assassination. The MQM is a coalition partner with the ANP in the national government and is known as a party that holds great potential for mass mobilization in the province of Sindh.

The Associated Press (AP) said that the MQM's accusation "appeared to reflect the complex and vicious political and ethnic fault lines that crisscross Karachi."

The AP also said that Sharfuddin Memon, the head of the Citizen's Police Liason Committee had speculated that Haider's killing may be related to a government operation against "land mafias", who illegally occupy commercially valuable land. According to the AP's report it is alleged that some of these mafias have the backing of political parties.

According to human rights organizations there have been more than 300 political killings in Karachi this year.

By Tuesday evening the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre had received 17 dead bodies and 55 injured. The head of the hospital, Dr Seemi Jamali, said that they had transfused 200 blood units to victims of targeted violence and that 31 gunshot victims had been operated upon that day.

This week's wave of violence and attacks began with the assassination of Raza Haider, but due to the nature of Karachi politics the exact motive behind Haider's murder is unclear. The Associated Press commented that the city has long been plagued by political violence between supporters of rival parties "that draw votes from different ethnic groups in the city of 16 million people." The publication said this muddied the reasons for the bloodshed.

Rehman Malik, Pakistan's Interior Minister was quoted by media as saying Islamist militants were likely suspects. He said that Haider had been on the extremist hit list. The BBC reported that they had been told by security officials in Karachi that there is evidence to suggest the assassination was carried out by the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Pakistan's deadliest militant group.

The BBC News website also reported that senior MQM leader Babar Ghauri had said: "Every MQM activist will now be looking to pay back the people involved in this heinous act".

Raza Haider was laid to rest on Tuesday at the Martyr's Graveyard in Azizabad, northern Karachi. Hundreds of MQM members and supporters attended to pay their final respects to Haider and to his guard Khalid Khan, also killed in the shooting. The funeral took place under tight security, and with activists raising slogans against the violence that has gripped the city.

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Sources [edit]

Salis bin Parwaiz. "19 more killed in Karachi violence" — The News International, Aug 4 2010
Ashraf Khan. "Political killing stokes tensions in Pakistan city" — Associated Press, Aug 4 2010
Syed Shoaib Hasan. "Killing of Pakistani politician triggers violence" — BBC News, Aug 3 2010
Imran Ayub. "Bloodshed in Karachi after MQM MPA Raza Haider killed" — Dawn.com, Aug 3 2010
"MQM leader laid to rest" — The News International, Aug 3 2010

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'Black box' found near crash site of Airblue flight

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 01:47:09 GMT

Correction — August 6, 2010

The recording of technical data such as airspeed, altitude, control inputs etc is not handled by the cockpit voice recorder, as suggested in this article, but is in fact handled by the flight data recorder.

This article uses the term 'black box' for the cockpit voice recorder, a device which records all the sounds in the cockpit. However, the flight data recorder is also often referred to as a black box.

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Monday, August 2, 2010

Depsite the nickname, black boxes are usually painted orange to aid in their recovery after a crash.
Image: Olli-Jukka Paloneva.

The aircraft involved, photographed a month before the crash
Image: Richard Vandervord.

Investigators have found the black box of an Airblue flight that crashed into the Margalla Hills of Pakistan's capital city on Wednesday. The flight data recorder was also recovered Saturday morning. Airblue Flight 202 departed from Karachi, Pakistan, and was bound for the capital Islamabad when it crashed into the Margalla Hills due to bad weather conditions. All 152 people aboard, including the 6 crewmembers, were killed.

Junaid Amin, the head of Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority, told CNN that the recorders will be sent to either Germany or France, which have the necessary resources to analyze the data. Such an investigation could take months to complete, however.

The black box records communication data and technical information such as speed and altitude, as well as conversations in the airplane cockpit. It could thus help investigators determine why the plane crashed.

Sources [edit]

Wikipedia has more about this subject:

Airblue Flight 202

"'Black box' found from Pakistan's worst plane crash" — BBC News Online, July 31, 2010
"Crews in Pakistan find voice, flight data recorders" — CNN, July 31, 2010

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Plane crash in Pakistani capital kills 152

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:15:18 GMT

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The aircraft involved, photographed a month before the crash
Image: Richard Vandervord.

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Collaborate!

An Airblue-owned passenger plane, originating from Karachi, Pakistan, has crashed on approach to Islamabad International Airport in the Pakistani capital earlier today. There were 146 passengers and 6 crew members on board.

Initial reports were unclear as to the death toll, with some indicating that everyone on board, including crew, have died, and others saying at least five survivors had been taken to the hospital. Later reports, however, confirmed that all aboard had died.

The people killed in the crash include six members of the Youth Parliament of Pakistan, and among the six foreigners on board were two Americans. The US president, Barack Obama, has stated that “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those touched by this horrible accident.”

"There is nothing left, just piles and bundles of flesh. There are just some belongings, like two or three traveling bags, some checkbooks, and I saw a picture of a young boy. Otherwise everything is burned," according to rescue worker Murtaza Khan.

Officials blame the crash on heavy fog and bad weather. Airblue spokesman Raheel Ahmed said that "[a]pparently the cause of the crash is bad weather, but we leave that to the investigators. We are now preoccupied with rescue work and striving to take care of the relatives of the passengers who were on board."

Rescuers were reportedly finding it difficult to reach the area of the crash, which is on a hill inaccessible by roads. An Islamabad city official, Aamir Ali Ahmed, said that "[i]t's a very difficult operation because of the rain. Most of the bodies are charred. We're sending body-bags via helicopters."

Witnesses said that the plane had been flying low over Islamabad before crashing; a local TV reporter, Anjum Rahman, said that "I wondered why the plane wasn't flying higher as it was flying towards the hill. Then within three or four minutes I heard a loud explosion."

This crash is the deadliest crash involving a Pakistani passenger jet since 1992, when 167 people on board an Airbus A300 were killed as it crashed into a hillside on its approach to the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu. The crash is also the deadliest crash in Pakistan to date. An earlier crash in 2006 killed 45.

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Sources [edit]

Wikipedia has more about this subject:

Airblue Flight 202

"Pakistan plane crash kills 152, including two Americans" — USA Today, July 28, 2010
"Passenger Plane Crashes Near Pakistani Capital" — New York Times, July 28, 2010
"Pakistani plane crashes with 150 on board" — Agence France-Presse, July 28, 2010
"No survivors as Pakistan plane crash kills 152" — BBC News Online, July 28, 2010

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Double bombing in Pakistani city leaves at least 22 dead

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:46:47 GMT

Friday, February 5, 2010

Pakistan

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Two bombings in Karachi, Pakistan have killed at least twenty-two people and injured over fifty.

Karachi, Pakistan
Image: Greg.

In spite of tight security across Pakistan, a motorbike carrying explosives was able to hit a bus carrying people to a religious procession, killing twelve. A second bomb killed at least thirteen when it exploded an hour later outside the local Jinnah hospital emergency ward where the victims, mainly Shia Muslims, of the first attack were being treated.

The bus attack took place on a shopping street near the main road that connects the airport with the city, but it is not clear whether it was a suicide bomber ramming the vehicle, or whether the motorbike was parked along side the bus before detonation.

The second bombing by the hospital, which struck within a crowd of protesters that had gathered to mourn the people killed in the first attack, was likely a suicide bombing, according to local police.

Ghylam Nabi, a local police officer, told Reuters that a third bomb had been found inside a television set in the hospital premises. It was defused successfully.

40 Shia Muslims were also killed in a car bomb attack today in Karbala, Iraq, as they took part in the final day of the religious festival known as Arbaeen, the 40 day mourning for the grandson of the Prophet Muhammed. This was the third bombing in Karbala this week.

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Sources [edit]

"Pakistan double bombing kills Shia Muslims" — BBC News Online, February 5, 2010
AP. "22 killed as bombs hit Karachi" — The Independent, February 5, 2010

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NATO oil tanker torched in Pakistan

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:36:26 GMT

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Pakistan

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23 May 2012: Twitter restored in Pakistan after block over Muhammad images
17 April 2012: Supreme Court of Pakistan criticizes authorities over Bhutto murder

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The area east of the Khyber pass (pictured) in Pakistan has seen very frequent attacks.
Image: Agnte.

Militants in north-west Pakistan blew up a fuel tanker carrying supplies to NATO forces in Afghanistan on Monday. More than ten armed men shot at the tanker and fired a rocket at the vehicle outside Peshawar city, and the driver and a passenger were injured in the attack, although no loss of life is reported.

Head of the north-western city's administration, Sahibzada Anees, said "About ten armed people fired at a tanker carrying petrol for NATO forces and later lobbed a rocket at the vehicle, which set alight some 78,000 litres (17,000 gallons) of fuel".

According to witnesses, the tanker was quickly in flames. The residents of the areas were successfully rescued by police and fire fighters and the blaze was brought under control. Police have launched a search operation in nearby areas, although with no success.

Nobody has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Oil tankers and trucks bringing goods from port city of Karachi for allied forces battling the Taliban in Afghanistan have been regularly attacked. About 80% of supplies destined for the more than 113 thousand NATO troops in Afghanistan have to pass through Pakistan. The coalition forces bring 70% of supplies through Pakistan every month, from a total of two thousand truckloads.

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Sources [edit]

"Nato tanker fire under control" — The News International, February 1, 2010
"Another NATO oil tanker caught fire after an explosion in Peshawar" — The Nation (newspaper), February 1, 2010
"Nato-supply tanker ambushed in Peshawar" — GEO TV, February 1, 2010

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Wikinews Shorts: Feburary 3, 2010

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:32:48 GMT

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

A compilation of brief news reports for Wednesday, February 3, 2010 .

1 Christmas day bomber cooperating
2 Fire in Hyderabad hospital; 1 dead
3 China begins urgent sweep for tainted milk
4 Karachi violence escalates, section 144 imposed

Christmas day bomber cooperating [edit]

Photo by US Marshal Service.
Image: E54987.

The Nigerian man accused of trying to blow up a Detroit-bound jetliner on Christmas day with hidden explosives is cooperating with investigators and providing fresh intelligence after the U.S. enlisted the help of his family, an administration official said. His family persuaded him to cooperate.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab has been providing information to Federal Bureau of Investigation agents questioning him, the official told reporters on the condition of anonymity.

The official declined to provide details on what kind of information Abdulmutallab was providing.

Related news

"Failed bomb aboard Delta flight" — Wikinews, December 26, 2009

Sources

Evan Perez. "Abdulmutallab Resumes Talking to Federal Agents" — The Wall Street Journal, February 2, 2010
"Bomb plot accused 'co-operating'" — UKPA, February 2, 2010

Fire in Hyderabad hospital; 1 dead [edit]

Somajiguda

Somajiguda on the map of India

One person died and 41 were injured, including three nurses who are critically injured, in a major fire at Park Healthcare Hospital in Somajiguda, a suburb of the Indian city Hyderabad, on Tuesday morning.

The fire engulfed a major portion of the five-storey hospital’s first floor, along with some medical equipment and furniture on the other floors.

City police commissioner A K Khan said that a criminal case had been registered against the hospital management. "It is also being determined whether safety standards were followed by the hospital," he said.

Sources

"Major fire at city hospital; one patient dead" — The Hindu, February 2, 2010
"Major fire at Hyderabad hospital; one patient dead" — PTI, February 2, 2010

China begins urgent sweep for tainted milk [edit]

Stripped shelves in a supermarket in China as a result of the contamination (September 2008)
Image: Kollision.

Chinese authorities say they are preparing to launch a crackdown on melamine-laced milk after the scandal over tainted products, which made hundreds of thousands of children ill two years ago and damaged China’s brand reputation overseas, resurfaced.

China has dispatched inspectors to sixteen provinces to urge local governments to thoroughly investigate cases concerning food safety.

The decision comes after milk products tainted with the industrial chemical melamine were removed from sale in Shanghai and the provinces of Shaanxi, Shandong, Liaoning and Hebei, the state-run Xinhua News Agency said.

Related news

"Contaminated baby's milk induces wave of child illness in China" — Wikinews, September 22, 2008

Sources

Edward Wong. "China Begins Emergency Check of Dairy Products" — The New York Times, February 2, 2010
Cara Anna. "Beijing begins emergency sweep for tainted milk products" — The Boston Globe, February 3, 2010

Karachi violence escalates, section 144 imposed [edit]

Map of Karachi, Sindh province

At least twenty-six people have been killed in Karachi, Pakistan after four days of ethnic killings, according to police officials. The officials said that nine people were killed on Monday in the city's Orangi western neighbourhood, which has a majority ethnic Pashtun community.

The Sindh government has awarded special powers to the Pakistan Rangers under Section 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 and imposed Section 144 in the limits of 26 police stations for a month.

At least forty people were killed as ethnic clashes erupted across the city in early January.Home minister of Sindh province, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza has called upon the Army to restore peace and order.

Sources

Salis bin Perwaiz. "Rangers given control of 26 police stations" — The News International, February 3, 2010
"Deadly ethnic violence hits Karachi" — Al Jazeera, February 2, 2010
Zamir Sheikh and Nisar Mehdi. "Army asked to take over Karachi" — The Nation, February 3, 2010

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Greek man arrested over alleged plot to hijack Emirates airliner at Karachi airport

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:56:15 GMT

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Jinnah International Airport, Karachi

Pakistan

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23 May 2012: Twitter restored in Pakistan after block over Muhammad images
17 April 2012: Supreme Court of Pakistan criticizes authorities over Bhutto murder

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A Greek man was arrested at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi after he allegedly tried to smuggle a handgun hidden in his laptop onto an Airbus A330-200.

Annkhus Sarzio was due to travel with his mother on Emirates flight EK 605, returning to his homeland in Athens, Greece via Dubai. When they tried to pass through airport security, scanning equipment detected a 9mm handgun concealed in the battery casing of Sarzio's laptop.

Sarzio claims in preliminary investigations that he bought the handgun in Karachi. He says he is a businessman involved in carpets and that he had been staying in the city for at least a month.

Security officials registered the case against the accused at a local police station; the suspect's mother has not been detained although initially she was arrested. According to The News International, Sarzio may have links with international terrorist groups and airport officials say this could have been an attempt to hijack the airplane.

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Sources [edit]

"Greek man with gun arrested at Pakistan airport" — Yahoo! News, October 5, 2009
"Greek with gun arrested at Pakistan's Karachi airport" — Xinhua News Agency, October 4, 2009
"Greek Man Arrested at Pakistan Airport After Allegedly Carrying Gun" — FOX News, October 4, 2009
"Pistol recovered from Greek at Karachi airport" — The News International, October 4, 2009
"Greek man with gun arrested at Karachi airport" — Dawn (newspaper), October 4, 2009
"Greek arrested with weapon at Karachi airport" — ARY News, October 4, 2009

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Two freight trains collide in Pakistan

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:35:54 GMT

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Pakistan

Other stories from Pakistan

25 January 2013: Mumbai 2008 attack plotter sentenced to 35 years
4 January 2013: Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai discharged from hospital
10 September 2012: Pakistani footballer Abdul Ghafoor dies aged 71
23 May 2012: Twitter restored in Pakistan after block over Muhammad images
17 April 2012: Supreme Court of Pakistan criticizes authorities over Bhutto murder

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At least two people were wounded after two freight trains collided with each other near Kotri in southern Pakistan today.

A freight train was on the track near the Kotri railway station when a Hyderabad-bound freight train coming from Karachi, loaded with oil drums, hit it and a fire broke out. Twenty eight goods wagons of the freight train carrying 1,372,000 litres of oil were derailed, and oil was spilled.

Rail traffic in both directions has been suspended on the track following this incident. Firebrigade and ambulance immediately reached the spot while Pakistan Railway's emergency relief train has left Karachi towards the spot.

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Sources [edit]

"Six bogies derailed after trains collide near Kotri, authorities declared emergency" — The Nation (newspaper), September 10, 2009
"Two goods trains collided near Kotri" — The News International, September 10, 2009
"28 bogies overturn in freight trains’ collision" — GEO News, September 10, 2009

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Death toll from Pakistan train crash officially lowered to 40

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:10:14 GMT

Friday, December 21, 2007

Pakistan

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The official death toll for a recent derailment in Pakistan has been lowered from 58 deaths to 40. The Karachi Express from Karachi to Lahore left the rails at high speed in Sindh province.

At least 115 passengers were injured in the crash, of which ten remain in hospital. Most of them were returning from the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha.

Fourteen of the sixteen cars that comprised the service were derailed. The force of the accident, which occurred near Mehrabpur, about 250 miles from Karachi, was such that two were completely destroyed and the rails were severely damaged.

Junaid Qureshi, director of operations at state owned Pakistan Railways, who operate the service, said that the official figures are now 40 dead and 269 injured. Most of the casualties were in the two carriages that were destroyed. "The position now is that there are 40 dead," Qureshi told reporters, adding that the original figure appeared sourceless. "I do not know where they (the officials) got it from."

He went on to say that of the 40 deceased, 39 bodies had been returned to families, whilst one body remained unidentified and is currently awaiting being claimed at a morgue in Karachi.

However, there are still conflicting reports about the number of casualties. Representatives of the Edhi Foundation, Pakistan's largest private emergency service provider, which attended the scene, said that the foundation had removed 45 bodies from the wreckage, while Mohammed Shafi Toor, head of the state-owned hospital at Mehrabpur, put the figures at 46 dead and 290 injured.

Meanwhile, an official inquiry has been launched. "The inquiry is underway and will be completed within the next five days," said Pakistan Railways Secretary Ghiasuddin, continuing to say that the panel conducting the investigation will make recommendations as a result of it's findings. It is believed the track failed due to extremely low temperatures.

Officials have re-opened the line having repaired the damaged section.

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Mehrabpur train derailment

"Pakistan lowers train crash toll to 40" — KVIA-TV, December 20, 2007
"Pakistan authorities lower toll in train accident to 40" — Zee News, December 20, 2007
Sadaqat Jan. "Pakistan Lowers Train Crash Toll to 40" — Associated Press, December 20, 2007

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Pakistani train derailment kills at least 56

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:35:04 GMT

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Pakistan

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Location of Pakistan

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Early this morning, an express passenger train (carrying about 700 passengers) derailed in Pakistan, leaving at least 56 dead and 150 more injured. At least ten of the carriages that comprised the service between Karachi and Lahore left the track and fell down an embankment, ripping them apart.

The disaster occurred some 250 miles north of Karachi at 2:00 a.m. PST (UTC+5). Pakistan Railways says it appears the derailment, which sent carriages hurtling into a waterlogged field adjacent to the track, was caused by extreme cold, which in turn caused a welded joint in the track to contract and split. Brigadier Nazhar Jamil, head of an army rescue team presently on-site, said he believed another possible cause was excessive speed in combination with inadequate maintenance.

State-run PTV said that Asad Saeed, General Manager of Pakistan Railways, had told them "A welded track joint broke. Tracks shrink in winter. There are many forces on the track and sometimes this joint breaks." He went on to rule out terrorist involvement and point out that the tracks are old and the government is midway through a programme to replace them. He said other services were not affected.

	A welded track joint broke. Tracks shrink in winter. There are many forces on the track and sometimes this joint breaks.
—Asad Saeed, Pakistan Railways

The violence of the crash ripped carriages apart, leaving wreckage strewn across the surrounding area. A segment of one of the rails was torn up, and the engine came to rest approximately a mile away from the initial site of the derailment. Sources vary on how many carriages were involved. The Times says ten carriages derailed and does not state the total number in the train, while Sky News reports that twelve of the train's sixteen carriages derailed and Xinhua gives the numbers as fifteen cars of a seventeen-car train. Reports on passenger numbers also vary, with the train carrying between 700 and 900 passengers, mostly returning from the Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Adha.

Jamil told reporters that many lives were saved by local residents, who rushed many of the wounded to hospital using rickshaws, scooters and donkey-drawn carts. Army engineers had to free the last survivors from the wreckage using two rail-mounted cranes and cutting equipment. One of the last to be rescued was a three-year-old girl, who's foot was seriously injured.

Police and soldiers carried the wounded to waiting ambulances, which rushed them to three nearby hospitals.

President Pervez Musharraf has ordered an immediate inquiry, which will be conducted by Pakistan Railways. The inquiry will examine whether any responsibility must be taken by any of those involved, as well as ways of preventing another similar disaster from taking place.

Fatal train accidents occur with some regularity in Pakistan, a problem frequently exacerbated by overcrowding. This is the worst accident since the Ghotki rail crash in 2005. Over 120 people were then killed as the Karachi Express—the same service as in this accident—hit a train that had broken down from behind; the wreckage from both these trains was then struck by a third passenger express. The driver of the Karachi Express had misread a signal.

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Sources [edit]

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Mehrabpur train derailment

Hannah Strange. "Pakistan train crash kills at least 56 passengers" — Times Online, December 19, 2007
"Many Dead After Express Train Crashes" — Sky News, December 19, 2007
"Broken track joint possible cause of train derailment in S.Pakistan" — Xinhua, December 19, 2007

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27 dead after consuming poisonous alcohol

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:12:01 GMT

Friday, September 21, 2007

Location of Karachi, Pakistan.

At least 27 people in Karachi, Pakistan have died after they consumed poisonous, home-made alcohol at a private party. At least 11 more people are hospitalized, with eight of them in critical condition. Reports say that among the dead are police officers, and that at least one of the individuals responsible for brewing the alcohol has been hospitalized.

"The poisonous liquor has so far claimed 27 lives and another 11 are being treated in different hospitals," said police Deputy Inspector General Javed Bukhari, who also added that the alcohol "was supplied to all these people by the same source." At least 100 bottles of the poisonous alcohol were sold at the party.

So far, three police officers have been suspended from duty because they failed to stop the alcohol from being made and sold. At least one officer is reported to have been involved in the brewing of the alcohol.

Pakistan shifted from practicing secular policies to Sharia law 25 years ago, and as a result alcohol is not allowed to be consumed by Muslims in the country. If caught consuming or possessing alcohol, the individual could face three years in jail, or be caned. There are few stores that sell alcohol, and those that do are closed during Ramadan.

Police are investigating the incident.

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Sources [edit]

"At least 27 poisoned by fake alcohol in Pakistan" — RIA Novosti, September 21, 2007
"Toxic liquor kills 27 in Pakistan's Karachi" — Reuters, September 21, 2007
"Pakistan alcohol tragedy kills 22" — BBC News, September 21, 2007

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Six killed in bridge collapse in Pakistan

Sun, 02 Sep 2007 09:56:27 GMT

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Pakistan

Other stories from Pakistan

25 January 2013: Mumbai 2008 attack plotter sentenced to 35 years
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10 September 2012: Pakistani footballer Abdul Ghafoor dies aged 71
23 May 2012: Twitter restored in Pakistan after block over Muhammad images
17 April 2012: Supreme Court of Pakistan criticizes authorities over Bhutto murder

...More articles here

Location of Pakistan

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Pakistan, see the Pakistan Portal

A bridge collapsed in the southern city of Karachi, Pakistan. At least four people are dead and there are several crushed vehicles under the mounds of debris, say officials.

“

Authorities had taken two bodies to a hospital, while another two bodies could be seen inside a crushed car. At least five people were injured, said Azhar Faruqi, city police chief.

”

The cause of the accident is not immediately clear.

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List of bridge disasters

Zarar Khan. "4 Killed in Bridge Collapse in Pakistan" — Associated Press, September 2, 2007
"PPP condemns bridge collapse" — Daily Times, September 2, 2007

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Team formed to investigate suspicious Pakistan PNSC office fire

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:57:35 GMT

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Babar Ghauri, Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping, has told reporters at a press conference that an investigative team has been formed to look into the causes of a suspicious fire two days ago at the Karachi office of the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC).

One office worker was killed and four firefighters were injured in the multi-storey blaze. Another man had to be rescued from the roof via helicopter. 31 people were in the office at the time of the fire, including eight PNSC security guards and six other PNSC personnel, the rest working for private companies.

The provincial investigation team's findings are expected to be announced in around fifteen days. In addition, the Karachi Building Control Authority and several private organizations have been asked to inspect the building, and the course of action to be taken regarding the site will be determined after they have submitted their reports. “Even if the current PNSC building is demolished, it will be replaced by another PNSC building. The plot will not be given to anyone else,” Ghauri said.

“I have spoken to the prime minister on the telephone. I told him that the incident should be investigated by independent parties and ministry personnel should not be part of these investigation teams,” Ghauri said. Meanwhile, the Senate Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping confirmed that they will send a team to assist in investigative efforts.

The fire, which consumed floors four to ten, is being treated as suspicious because it is the second the building has suffered this year. The previous fire, which occurred on February 18, was deemed by a multi-national investigation at the time to have been caused by an electrical fault. The minister has, however, promised that the fact both fires occurred on a Sunday will be part of the investigation.

This latest fire has destroyed the records of several private shipping companies, causing Farhatullah Babar of the Pakistan Peoples Party to declare that the fire was a deliberate act to destroy undesirable PNSC documents. However, Ghauri was dismissive of the allegations, saying “Babar merely wants some cheap publicity and leveled allegations at us,” and adding that PNSC records have not been affected by the fire. The records are computerised, and stored on the untouched first floor. The offices destroyed by the fire housed private corporations, such as Mega Shipping Company, Attock Cement, Engro, Meezan Bank and others.

There was already a known security issue in the building, with PNSC Chairman Tanvir Naqvi telling reporters “We were just about to issue tenders for improving security in the building when this happened.”

People described as 'sources in the PNSC' told reporters that the building was constructed by a company based in Turkey for Rs 30 million in 1958. “This building will not be demolished. Damages will be repaired and the building can be made usable,” said one.

One man who worked on the fourth floor of the structure, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to represent the PNSC, told the Daily Times newspaper that “The fire initially did not break out on the fourth floor," as originally reported, saying instead “At around 2:00 p.m. we saw smoke coming through our lighting fixtures. Within 36 seconds the smoke was so thick that we could not recognize people standing right in front of us. There is no air exhaust system on the emergency exits. If we had not evacuated immediately, we would have suffocated and died on the emergency exits.”

He goes on to claim that of a number of PNSC employees present, not one knew how to operate the fire extinguishers supplied. They started panicking. I broke the glass and used the hose to try to put the fire out. But the smoke was too thick. We were in contact with Adeel (the worker on the roof of the building).”

“The fire started in the ducts of the building. The pillars had already been damaged by the February blaze. This time around, the fire was more intense.”

Sources [edit]

"Intelligence agencies to investigate PNSC fire, says Ghauri - To report in 15 days, no ministry men to probe fire" — Daily Times of Pakistan, August 21, 2007
"Senate body to get involved" — Daily Times, August 21, 2007

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