ISLAMABAD: Authorities on Sunday initiated a crackdown to zero in on and penalize all individuals responsible for damaging property, as part of three-day protests against a Supreme Court’s verdict to acquit a Christian woman, Aasia Bibi, accused of blasphemy.
The protests ended on Friday after the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) -- a hardline religious political party and the main group leading the demonstrations -- inked a five-point deal with the government to end the sit-ins.
After analyzing the damage caused by the protests, Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Shehryar Afridi, tweeted on Saturday evening that the government of Pakistan wouldn't spare anyone responsible for damaging public property.
He added that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had been instructed to provide the necessary forensic data for evidence. “State is concerned for the loss of citizens, we will leave no stone unturned to identify the source of vandalism. Will stand for all the citizens who suffered from the ppl who vandalized the property of innocent ppl (People). Pakistan has to rise & such anonymous forces will be unveiled.” Afridi's tweet read.
According to the five points of the agreement, a “legal process will be initiated” to put Bibi’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL) which would effectively bar her from leaving the country. It would further ensure that the government does not oppose a petition filed by the TLP to review the judgment in Bibi’s case. The two sides also agreed to take immediate legal action over any casualties that may have occurred during the protests, with an understanding to release all those arrested on October 30 or thereafter with immediate effect.
The TLP -- which emerged as a new political force in Pakistan after bagging more than 2.2 million votes in the July general elections -- “apologized to anyone whose sentiments were hurt” during the protests. Activists criticized the deal, accusing the government of giving in to the extremists, adding that it was “not a good sign for the state”.
“HRCP is seriously concerned at how quickly the government capitulated to the demands of extremist-led mobs, despite its earlier vow to preserve the writ of the state,” the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in a statement on Sunday.
Government vows to penalize vandals
Government vows to penalize vandals
- Orders authorities to collect forensic data for evidence
- Follows three-day protests against SC verdict to acquit Christian woman accused of blasphemy
Firefighter dies battling Pakistan mall blaze raising death toll to six
- The fire gutted several shops at Gul Plaza in Karachi’s Saddar business district late Saturday
- Police say an investigation into the cause of fire will be launched once the blaze is doused
ISLAMABAD: A firefighter was killed while battling a blaze at a shopping mall in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi, officials said on Sunday, raising the death toll from the incident to six.
The fire, which erupted at Gul Plaza in Karachi’s Saddar business district late Saturday, gutted several shops, according to a Rescue 1122 spokesman.
Television footage showed several fire trucks using ladders, water cannons and hoses to douse the building’s floors, where flames shot out of windows and balconies.
Around 20 injured persons were shifted to hospital, where a firefighter among six individuals succumbed to burn injuries.
“The entire team and machinery are busy extinguishing the fire,” Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said. “Firefighters are carrying out the rescue operation risking their own lives.”
The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Police said an investigation would be launched once the blaze was extinguished. However, most structures in Karachi, and other parts of the country, lack fire prevention and firefighting systems, which often result in damages and casualties.
Karachi is the capital of southern Sindh province, where such incidents are common. In November 2023, a fire tore through a shopping mall in the city, killing 10 people and injuring 22 others.
Sindh Chief Minister directed the Karachi commissioner to probe the incident and submit an inquiry report.
“Fire safety arrangements in the building must be checked,” he said. “Action be taken against those responsible in case negligence or carelessness is proven.”
In his message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in the Karachi fire incident, urging all necessary action to protect lives and property of people.
“Relevant agencies should work together in the rescue operation,” he said. “All possible assistance should be provided to the affected traders and other people.”
