Five coal miners die of suffocation from hazardous gas in southwest Pakistan

This file photograph taken on March 20, 2024 and released by Pakistan Disaster Management Authority Balochistan shows miners gathered outside a collapsed mine as rescue personnel conduct a search operation for trapped workers after a gas explosion rocked the private coal pit in the mining region of Khost at Harnai district, Balochistan province. (Photo courtesy: PDMA Balochistan/File)
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Updated 15 September 2024
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Five coal miners die of suffocation from hazardous gas in southwest Pakistan

  • The incident took place in Balochistan’s Harnai district where 12 miners were killed in an explosion in March
  • The province’s chief mines inspector says the laborers who lost their lives due to asphyxiation were Afghans

QUETTA: Five coal mine laborers died of suffocation on Saturday after the mine filled with hazardous gas in the Shah Rag area of Harnai district, located in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, according to the province’s chief mines inspector.
Balochistan, known for its rich mineral resources, has a history of such accidents, reflecting the region’s unsafe mining practices. Earlier this year, in March, a gas explosion in a coal mine in the same district claimed the lives of 12 laborers due to gas buildup and a lack of proper safety protocols.
While provincial authorities said they were taking notice of the development, workers in many mines across the province still lack adequate protective gear amid an absence of essential safety protocols.
“Five coal laborers suffocated to death due to a lack of oxygen in the mine, while one managed to survive,” Abdul Ghani Baloch, Balochistan’s chief mines inspector, told Arab News. “The workers were 400 feet inside the coal mine when oxygen deficiency took place for unknown reasons.”
He said the area where the incident occurred is located about 137 kilometers from the provincial capital Quetta, adding that the miners who had died belonged to Afghanistan.
“The bodies of the coal mine workers have been reprieved and shifted to their native villages in in the neighboring country,” he continued.
“The provincial mining teams have visited the area and commenced an investigation to know the causes of the incident,” he added.


Pakistan eyes increasing exports to Russia to $4 billion in next 5 years

Updated 03 October 2024
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Pakistan eyes increasing exports to Russia to $4 billion in next 5 years

  • Inaugural three-day Pakistan-Russia Trade and Investment Forum concludes in Moscow 
  • Over 100 Russian companies, 70 Pakistani businesspersons participated in trade forum 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan aims to increase its exports to Russia to $4 billion in the next five years, Privatization Minister Abdul Aleem Khan said on Thursday, as the South Asian country eyes improving its economic prospects through international trade and investment with regional partners. 

Khan was leading a delegation of 70 Pakistani businesspersons at the inaugural Pakistan-Russia Trade and Investment Forum from Oct. 1-3 to strengthen economic ties and explore new business opportunities in Russia. According to the Pakistani embassy in Moscow, over 100 Russian companies took part in the forum which concluded on Thursday. 

“In the next 5 years, Pakistan wants to export four billion dollars from Russia,” Khan was quoted as saying by his ministry. “Pakistan’s target to increase exports will move ahead with a new plan of action.”

The minister met leading Russian businesspersons and held detailed discussions on various issues with them, the privatization ministry said. He urged Russian officials to organize similar forums between the two countries in future. 

Khan termed the participation of more than 100 Russian companies and 70 Pakistani businesspersons as an impressive feat. He said various issues related to business visas, transport and logistic problems, banking channels and alternative means of payment mechanisms also came under discussion. 

The minister also met the president of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and discussed with him all the possible steps to enhance Russian investment in Pakistan. Khan hailed the Pakistani embassy in Russia for playing a “dynamic role” in fostering closer ties between the two nations.

“I will return from Russia with happy memories and strong hope,” he said.

Pakistan and Russia, once Cold War rivals, have warmed up to each other in recent years through regular business and trade interactions. As Islamabad seeks to enhance its role as a transit hub for landlocked economies in Central Asia, it has expressed interest in connecting with Russia through Central Asian states for bilateral trade.

Islamabad’s ties with Russia also saw significant improvement in 2023 after Pakistan started purchasing Russian crude oil at a discount rate. The development came after geopolitical tensions almost doubled the fuel prices in Pakistan, forcing the South Asian country to opt for cheaper sources of fuel.

Pakistan also received its first shipment of liquified petroleum gas from Russia in September 2023, marking Islamabad’s second major Russian energy purchase.

Last month, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk arrived in Islamabad on a brief visit, seeking to expand trade and investment ties with Pakistan.


Indian court halts release of Pakistani blockbuster “The Legend of Maula Jatt”

Updated 03 October 2024
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Indian court halts release of Pakistani blockbuster “The Legend of Maula Jatt”

  • Movie starring A-listers Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan and Hamza Ali Abbasi was scheduled to release in India on Oct. 2 
  • Political tensions between India and Pakistan have led to minimum cultural exchanges between the countries 

KARACHI: An Indian court has issued a stay order halting the release of the Pakistani blockbuster “The Legend of Maula Jatt” in the country, the film’s distributor in Pakistan confirmed on Thursday. 

Released in October 2022, the movie is a reboot of a hyper-masculine Punjabi film that enchanted viewers four decades ago. It has not only won critical acclaim but also done incredibly well by breaking all previous records at the local and international box office for Pakistani cinema. It stars Pakistani A-listers Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan and Hamza Ali Abbasi in lead roles. 

The film’s director Bilal Lashari announced in August that the film would be released in theaters across India on Oct. 2, triggering excitement among movie buffs in both countries. 

“The Punjab court has issued a stay order on the release of the film [in India],” film distributor Nadeem Mandviwalla told Arab News. 

“It is alleged that the film has been stopped through a stay order which was applied by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry of India.”

Mandviwalla said he was in the dark about the exact reason why the movie’s release was halted in India. 

“I have no idea [why the release has been stopped],” he said. “We are also trying to find out what was the content of their appeal to the court.”

Indian politician Raj Shrikant Thackeray, chairman of the right-wing Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party, had earlier posted on social media platform X that he would not allow the Pakistani blockbuster to be screened in Maharashtra theaters where his party holds sway. 

Tensions between Pakistan and India have led to minimal cultural exchanges between the two states. India banned Pakistani artists from working in their country after the Uri terror attack in 2016 while Pakistan has put a blanket ban on the release of Indian films across the country.

Both countries have fought three wars since gaining independence in 1947, two of them over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir. Political tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors continue to dominate their relations.


Pakistani IT firms showcase AI, Big Data solutions at Amsterdam tech exhibition

Updated 03 October 2024
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Pakistani IT firms showcase AI, Big Data solutions at Amsterdam tech exhibition

  • Exhibition held from Oct. 1-2 was sponsored by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan
  • Pakistan’s participation shows its growing expertise in AI, big data, says commerce ministry 

ISLAMABAD: Four Pakistani information technology firms showcased cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and big data solutions at an exhibition in Amsterdam this week, highlighting the country’s role as a key player in the global tech arena, the commerce ministry said on Thursday.

The AI and Big Data Expo Europe was held from Oct. 1-2 in Amsterdam, featuring next-generation technologies and strategies in the world of artificial intelligence. The event was sponsored by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and included various speakers from the fields of data science. 

AI technology enables computers and machines to simulate human learning, comprehension, problem-solving, decision making and creativity. Big data refers to extremely large and diverse collections of structured, unstructured, and semi-structured data that continues to grow exponentially over time. Big data is used in machine learning, predictive modeling, and other advanced analytics to solve business problems and make informed decisions. 

“Four leading Pakistani IT companies Reach the Globe, ICILtek, NorthBay Solutions and Sofizar/ ConstellationCK proudly represented Pakistan at the AI and Big Data Exhibition Europe at the RAI Convention Center in Amsterdam,” the commerce ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

Pakistan’s embassy in The Hague played an important role in promoting the participation of these companies by ensuring a “seamless setup” of the Pakistan Pavillion, the ministry said. It added that the embassy also facilitated booths for local companies and promoted Pakistani IT firms in front of visitors from different sectors. 

The Pakistani embassy hosted a networking dinner to bring together local IT firms and key stakeholders representing Dutch companies, the statement said. The dinner provided a platform for Pakistani and Dutch businesses to discuss collaboration opportunities. 

Muhammad Shafiq Haider Virk, Pakistan’s trade and investment councilor in the Netherlands, said the participation of the four local companies demonstrated the South Asian nation’s growing expertise in AI and big data.

“The Embassy of Pakistan in The Hague will continue to support and promote Pakistani businesses on the global stage, strengthening our trade ties with the Netherlands and Europe,” he said.


Relief for government as Pakistan top court rejects 2022 ruling on lawmakers’ defection clause

Updated 03 October 2024
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Relief for government as Pakistan top court rejects 2022 ruling on lawmakers’ defection clause

  • Pakistan’s top court barred lawmakers in 2022 from voting against their parliamentary party’s lines
  • Ruling comes ahead of government’s move to table key constitutional amendments in parliament 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top court unanimously accepted a review petition against its 2022 judgment related to a defection clause in the constitution that barred lawmakers from voting against party lines in parliament, with the decision expected to bring major relief to the government as it plans to introduce a set of constitutional amendments in parliament. 

Pakistan’s top court ruled in May 2022 that votes cast by lawmakers opposed to their parliamentary party in four instances mentioned in the constitution’s Article 63-A would not be counted and the lawmaker found guilty of doing so could be disqualified from holding membership of parliament. These four instances include the elections of a prime minister and chief minister, a vote of confidence or no confidence, a constitutional amendment bill, and a money bill.

Pakistan’s ruling coalition government is planning on introducing a set of constitutional amendments in parliament that lawyers, opposition parties and independent experts allege are aimed at increasing the government’s power in making key judicial appointments and dealing with the defection of lawmakers during house votes. 

However, the government had deferred its move to table the amendments last month, admitting it did not have the required two-thirds majority in parliament required for their approval. Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has warned that if the Supreme Court struck down its 2022 ruling, it would pave the way for floor crossing in parliament. 

“I strongly condemn this, I just heard that the decision of [Article] 63-A has been issued,” former president and PTI leader Arif Alvi told reporters, shortly after a five-member bench of the apex court led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa accepted the review petition. 

“What was the need for this? They just want to pass these amendments through this fake assembly which was rejected by even Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, which can’t even pass a law let alone an amendment,” he added.

‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND UNJUST’ 

Khan’s lawyer in the case Ali Zafar had objected to the formation of the five-member bench and sought a meeting with the former prime minister in prison. 

Khan’s PTI has accused the government of attempting to grant an extension in tenure to Isa, who is widely viewed to be aligned with the ruling coalition and in opposition to its chief rival, the PTI, through the constitutional amendments.

The government denies these allegations and says the amendments are aimed at providing speedy justice to thousands of litigants in the country. 

Zafar later boycotted the court’s proceedings on Thursday, saying the ruling would open the door for “horse-trading” in parliament. 

Pakistan’s coalition government has criticized the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar saying last month that it was akin to rewriting the constitution. 

Tarar had argued that no institution has the right to interpret the constitution as it pleases. 

“The Supreme Court finally admits its previous ruling on Article 63-A was unconstitutional and unjust,” the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party wrote on social media platform X. 

“They have corrected the blunder made by selected judges.”


Punjab bans public gatherings in Lahore ahead of Saturday protest by Imran Khan’s party

Updated 03 October 2024
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Punjab bans public gatherings in Lahore ahead of Saturday protest by Imran Khan’s party

  • PTI plans to protest against proposed constitutional amendments, demand Khan’s release from prison 
  • Recent protests and rallies by PTI have seen heavy security deployment, road blocks, clashes with police

ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government announced on Thursday it had banned public gatherings for six days in the eastern city of Lahore “to maintain law and order” ahead of a planned protest by the party of former prime minister Imran Khan.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party plans to hold a protest in Lahore on Saturday against proposed constitutional amendments the PTI says are meant to curtail the independence of the judiciary, a charge the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denies. The PTI is also trying to mobilize the public through large public gatherings to put pressure for the release of Khan, who has been in prison since August last year and faces a slew of legal challenges. 

The ban on rallies in Punjab was imposed using Section 144 of the code of criminal procedure, which allows gatherings of more than four people to be outlawed on account of security threats. Earlier this week, the Punjab government also imposed the provision in Bahawalpur, Faisalabad and Mianwali cities ahead of demonstrations by the PTI on Wednesday. The PTI says the federal and provincial governments are using the 144 legal provision to suppress the party’s constitutional right to protest and to block the growing popularity of a party that has a track record of attracting sometimes hundreds of thousands of people to demonstrations and rallies. 

“The Punjab government has imposed Section 144 in Lahore for six days from today to Tuesday,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported, adding that all political gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, demonstrations, protests and similar activities were outlawed.

“The decision was made to maintain law and order and to protect human lives and property.”

The PTI is also scheduled to hold a demonstration at the Democracy Chowk (D-Chowk) in Pakistan’s capital on Friday, following up on a number of protests and rallies in recent weeks.

The garrison city of Rawalpindi, bordering the federal capital of Islamabad, remained tense last Saturday as police fired tear gas shells to disperse hundreds of Khan supporters ahead of a protest in the city to demand the release of Khan, who has been in jail since August last year on multiple charges that he says are politically motivated to keep him and his party out of politics.

After a PTI rally in Islamabad on Sept. 8, over a dozen legislators from the party were arrested on charges of violating an agreement based on which permission for the gathering was issued, including abiding by a time limit and supporters sticking to certain routes to reach the designated venue for the rally on Islamabad’s outskirts.

Khan’s party says the challenges in holding rallies are part of an over-year-long crackdown it has faced since protesters allegedly linked to the party attacked and damaged government and military installations on May 9, 2023, after the former premier’s brief arrest the same day in a land graft case.

Hundreds of PTI followers and leaders were arrested following the riots and many remain behind bars as they await trial. The military, which says Khan and his party were behind the attacks, has also initiated army court trials of at least 103 people accused of involvement in the violence.

Khan, who has been in jail since last August, was ousted from the PM’s office in 2022 in a parliamentary vote of no confidence after what is widely believed to be a falling out with Pakistan’s powerful military, which denies being involved in politics.