ISLAMABAD: A road accident killed at least five pilgrims and injured more than 30 others in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province on Saturday, a rescue official said.
A bus carrying around 40 people was en route to Sehwan Sharif when it overturned near Ranipur, according to a Rescue 1122 spokesperson.
The passengers were going to attend annual Urs of 13th-century Sufi saint, Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.
“The injured men, women and children were shifted to Gambat and Ranipur hospitals by ambulance,” the Rescue 1122 spokesperson said in a statement.
The incident occurred because of speeding, according to the Sindh chief minister’s office. CM Murad Ali Shah has asked authorities to provide best treatment to the injured and assured all possible assistance to families of the deceased.
“Public should follow driving rules and avoid speeding,” he was quoted as urging the masses.
Fatal road accidents are common in Pakistan where traffic rules are rarely followed and roads as well as a majority of vehicles are in poor condition.
On Friday, at least five people, including renowned Manqabat Khawans Khawaja Ali Kazim and Syed Jan Rizvi, were killed in a road accident near Sindh’s Jamshoro, according to authorities.
On Dec. 30, at least 18 passengers were killed in two separate road accidents in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab and southern Sindh provinces, authorities said.
Road crash kills five pilgrims en route to shrine in southern Pakistan
https://arab.news/686qh
Road crash kills five pilgrims en route to shrine in southern Pakistan
- A bus carrying around 40 people was en route to Sufi saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar’s shrine
- The speeding vehicle overturned near Ranipur on its way to Sehwan Sharif, authorities say
Pakistan, Afghanistan border clashes kill 5, officials say
- Afghanistan and Pakistan trade blame for “unprovoked firing” along Chaman-Spin Boldak border
- Exchange takes place nearly a week after a fresh round of peace talks between neighbors failed
KABUL: Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire along their border late on Friday, officials from both countries said, killing at least five people amid heightened tensions following failed peace talks last weekend.
Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani forces launched attacks in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province.
His deputy Hamdullah Fitra told Reuters that shelling by Pakistan killed five people, including a Taliban member.
A spokesman for Pakistan’s prime minister said Afghan forces carried out “unprovoked firing” along the Chaman border.
“Pakistan remains fully alert and committed to ensuring its territorial integrity and the safety of our citizens,” spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi said in a statement.
The exchange came nearly a week after a new round of peace talks between the South Asian neighbors ended without a breakthrough, although both sides agreed to continue their fragile ceasefire.
The talks in Saudi Arabia last weekend were the latest in a series of meetings hosted by Qatar, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia to cool tensions following deadly border clashes in October.
At the heart of the dispute, Islamabad says Afghan-based militants have carried out recent attacks in Pakistan, including suicide bombings involving Afghan nationals. Kabul denied the charge, saying it could not be held responsible for security inside Pakistan.
Dozens were killed in October’s clashes, the worst violence on the border since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in 2021.
