Gas pipeline explosion in K-P's Haripur leaves 8 dead, 5 injured: officials

At least eight members of a household were killed, and five others were injured after a fire from an explosion in a gas pipeline in Haripur in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Hazara division, officials said on Thursday. The blaze engulfed nearby residential settlements in a suburban area at the Hattar Industrial Estate. Confirming the death toll, Haripur Deputy Commissioner Wasim Ahmad said that eight members of one household were killed in the incident, while five people were injured and six were rescued. “The deceased included three children, two girls, two elderly women, and one man,” he added. He said the fire was brought under control after several hours of efforts and that the rescue operation had been completed. The massive fire erupted in a gas pipeline near Colony Mor, Kot Najibullah, in the Hattar Industrial Estate, spreading panic in a nearby factory. Employees managed to escape, but several people were trapped in the adjacent residential area. Rescue and fire brigade teams reached the site immediately, and given the intensity of the fire, seven additional fire vehicles and firefighters were dispatched from Mansehra, Abbottabad, Mardan, and Swabi to bring the situation under control, a Rescue 1122 spokesperson said. Read: Russian strikes kill 17 across Ukraine in worst attack this year Following the incident, gas supply to the Hazara division was suspended. K-P Chief Minister  Sohail Afridi expressed sorrow over the loss of lives. He said the provincial government stood with the grieved families and was providing the best treatment to the wounded. He gave his assurance for all the help to the affected families. Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information Shafi Jan said that he was deeply saddened by the incident.  “Rescue 1122 and other agencies immediately launched rescue activities as workers from nearby districts were also involved in relief work as best treatment was made certain to the wounded,” he said.  “The chief minister also ordered the best treatment for the injured persons and vowed to provide every possible support,” he added.

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Pakistan, UK launch initiative to strengthen geoscientific capacity, mineral sector

Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, along with British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott, on Thursday launched a capacity-building initiative aimed at strengthening the country's geoscientific capabilities and supporting the development of the mineral sector. The programme was formally inaugurated at the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP), marking a significant step in Pakistan-UK collaboration. The initiative is being delivered through the UK-funded REMIT programme in partnership with International Geoscience Services (IGS), a UK-based geoscience consultancy with extensive experience in supporting geological survey organisations worldwide. The programme will run from April to July 2026 and aims to enhance GSP’s technical capacity through hands-on training aligned with international standards. Speaking at the event, the minister expressed gratitude to the British official for her support and said the timing of the initiative was particularly appropriate. He said that recent geopolitical developments and conflicts had once again exposed the vulnerabilities associated with excessive dependence on hydrocarbons. اسلام آباد: جیولوجیکل سروے آف پاکستان میں صلاحیت سازی کے پروگرام میں تعاون پر برطانوی ہائی کمیشن کا مشکور ہوں۔ pic.twitter.com/5qBvVLpbQ9 — Ali Pervaiz Malik (@AliPervaiz450) April 16, 2026 Malik emphasised that strengthening institutions such as the GSP was essential to position Pakistan as an attractive destination for mineral exploration and investment, especially in view of the growing global demand for minerals. He reiterated the government’s commitment to developing the mineral sector in a sustainable, transparent, and investor-friendly manner. Read More: Power minister apologises as LNG shock plunges country into severe load-shedding The minister appreciated the support of the British High Commission and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and acknowledged the high commissioner’s personal engagement in advancing the collaboration. He welcomed greater participation of international partners, particularly from the UK, across various segments of Pakistan’s mineral value chain. He added that the programme launched at GSP would help equip Pakistani scientists with modern tools, improve workflows, and enhance institutional capacity. Marriott reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s economic development through technical cooperation and institutional strengthening. She praised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for peace and noted that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had also expressed gratitude in the UK Parliament to the Pakistani government for its efforts to promote peace. She said Pakistan possessed extraordinary geological potential, but realising it depended on reliable data generated through modern methods. “Through this partnership, the UK is supporting Pakistan to build the skills, systems, and credibility needed to attract responsible investment and unlock long-term economic potential across the country,” she added. The launch event was held at the Geoscience Advanced Research Laboratories in Islamabad and was attended by senior representatives, including  Petroleum Division Secretary Hamid Yaqoob Sheikh, GSP Adviser Dr Hamid Ashraf, GSP Director General Adnan Alam Awan and other senior officials.

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Rights groups, JI join hands against inhuman culling of stray dogs, bite attack cases in Punjab

Animal rights organisations and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Lahore on Thursday announced a joint campaign against both the inhumane killing of stray dogs and the rising incidents of bite attacks injuring citizens across Punjab. They agreed on key measures, including adopting scientific population control methods, developing a coordinated strategy and urging district authorities to abandon conventional practices. The understanding was reached during a meeting held in Lahore between representatives of JI and various animal welfare organisations. Participants included JI Lahore Emir Ziauddin Ansari, Public Aid Committee President Qaiser Sharif, Advocate Altamash Saeed and Advocate Mian Ahmad Farooq of Environmental and Animal Rights Consultants Pakistan, Dr Aamna Ubaid Khawaja of LCWU Animal Welfare and Protection Society, and Dr Bilal from Punjab Police Animal Rescue Centre. Read More: Rabies stalks Lahore as dog attacks surge Fariha from Stray Hearts Rescue, representatives of Raffles Animal Welfare Registry, Barrister Masooma Bukhari of Farakhanda and Shehrat Bukhari Foundation, Aafia Khan of Give Us Life Animal Welfare, Musa Shoaib of TODS Welfare Society, and Syed Mohsin of Comprehensive Disaster Response Services (Benji Project), among others, also attended. Sharif said a ten-year-old boy was bitten by stray dogs even in the Askari 10 area in Lahore. “It was not a first or last incident as 436,408 dog bite incidents were reported in only 22 months, but the government is not interested in resolving the issue; the unreported numbers may be much higher,” Sharif said. Addressing the meeting, Ansari said that culling stray dogs was not a sustainable solution, adding that scientific approaches such as catch-neuter-vaccinate-release could prove more effective. The participants endorsed JI’s eight-point agenda and assured cooperation in fieldwork and technical support. The meeting also urged district administrations to move away from traditional methods and implement the proposed recommendations to ensure a balance between public safety and animal welfare.

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Toxic gas in Balochistan mine kills three

Three coal mine workers lost their lives after toxic gas accumulated inside a private coal lease in the Degari area, once again exposing hazardous conditions in Balochistan's mining sector, officials and local sources said on Wednesday. In the Degari locality of Machh, workers were engaged in underground operations when a sudden release of methane and other toxic gases rapidly filled the confined space, causing immediate unconsciousness and fatal suffocation, according to local accounts. The deceased workers include Murad Bakhsh, Ali Hassan, and Dilawar Khan.

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3 civilians killed by Afghan Taliban's unprovoked cross-border shelling in K-P's Bajaur: state media

Three civilians, including two children, were martyred and three others were injured on Wednesday when Afghan Taliban forces carried out unprovoked shelling on locals in a border area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Bajaur district, according to state media. The incident marks a renewed episode of cross-border aggression after a gap of over a month, following Pakistan’s Operation Ghazab Lil Haq launched in response to earlier unprovoked hostility from the Afghan side. In a post on X, state broadcaster PTV News said, quoting security sources, that "Indian-backed Afghan Taliban unprovoked aggression on civilian population in the border village of Malak Shahin in Kat Kot area of Bajaur" martyred a woman and two children from the same house, while three were seriously injured, who were subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment. Read: Pakistan, Afghanistan agree to explore comprehensive peace solution: China "Afghan Taliban have been trying to infiltrate a formation of the khawarij mischief-makers into Pakistan for the past few days. Due to the timely action by the Pakistan Army, the attempt to infiltrate the khawarij mischief-makers was foiled. Frustrated by this failure, the Afghan Taliban targeted Pakistan's civilian population in Kat Kot today," the statement said. It added that the Pakistan Army responded immediately and destroyed the gun position firing from across the border. It further said that Pakistani forces were also targeting Afghan Taliban posts along the Bajaur border, inflicting heavy losses and resulting in heavy casualties for the Afghan Taliban. "Residents of Bajaur have strongly condemned this cowardly act and expressed complete solidarity with the security forces. Security forces remain vigilant and determined at all times to protect the lives and property of the people and to establish lasting peace in the area. Targeting the civilian population by the Afghan Taliban is clear evidence of their nefarious intentions and frustration," the statement said. ٹاپ بریکنگ افغان طالبان کی باجوڑ میں پاکستانی سول آبادی پر گولہ باری ،2بچوں سمیت 3 افرادشہید، 3شدید زخمی بھارتی حمایت یافتہ افغان طالبان کی باجوڑ کے سرحدی علاقے کٹ کوٹ کے گاؤں ملک شاہین میں سول آبادی پر بلا اشتعال جارحیت ، سیکیورٹی ذرائع بلا اشتعال گولہ باری کے نتیجے میں ایک… pic.twitter.com/6u37avUZKQ — PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) April 15, 2026 Operation Ghazab Lil Haq was launched around the end of February following renewed clashes along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border, after Afghan Taliban forces fired on multiple locations, prompting swift military retaliation by Pakistan. The neighbouring countries were engaged in escalating hostilities along the frontier since then. The clashes intensified after Afghanistan launched a border offensive in response to Pakistani air strikes targeting terrorist positions and abated during a temporary ceasefire on the occasion of Eidul Fitr. The escalation in tensions between the two countries followed a series of tit-for-tat actions over the past year. Also Read: Two most wanted TTP terrorists gunned down in Tank operation: CTD Pakistan earlier carried out air strikes targeting camps of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State Khorasan Province inside Afghanistan after a wave of attacks in Pakistan, including a suicide bombing in Islamabad. Islamabad has long maintained that TTP leaders operate from Afghan territory, an allegation that Kabul has repeatedly denied. Tensions also surged after a series of explosions in Kabul on October 9 last year. Taliban forces subsequently targeted areas along Pakistan’s border, prompting Islamabad to respond with cross-border shelling. The exchanges caused casualties and infrastructure damage on both sides and led to the suspension of trade after border crossings were closed on October 12, 2025.

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Pakistan key to Iran-US talks, says Vali Nasr

Iranian-American academic and political scientist Vali Nasr says the ongoing war between Iran and the United States is not about military superiority but endurance, stressing that Pakistan has played a critical role in facilitating talks and de-escalating the situation. Speaking on Express24/7's programme "Full Frame" with senior anchorperson Fahd Husain, Nasr laid out the anatomy of a crisis driven as much by timing as by power. "This is not about who has bigger bombs," he said. "It is about who has more endurance and pain tolerance." At a moment when the Middle East stands on the brink of escalation, even as diplomacy inches towards a possible breakthrough, Pakistan has emerged at the centre of global attention. Nasr highlighted that Pakistan has played a key role in sustaining dialogue, building trust with Tehran, and coordinating with regional powers. He said the country's involvement has transformed the crisis into a defining moment for Islamabad's diplomatic standing. "The Pakistanis played a very important role in keeping it going," he noted. "There is no other game in town other than Islamabad," he added, explaining that Pakistan's strength lies in its neutrality. Nasr described the Islamabad Talks as an unprecedented moment in Pakistan's recent history. "Two or three years ago, we would never have predicted that Pakistan would have this kind of influence," he said. Reflecting on the latest round of negotiations, Nasr underscored that the 21-hour discussions marked the most substantial direct engagement between the United States and Iran. "The importance of this cannot be overstated," he added. Despite progress on the diplomatic front, the situation on the ground remains precarious. The ceasefire window is narrow and military pressure continues to build, while Donald Trump has ordered a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Nasr, however, offered a more strategic reading of the scenario, suggesting that the blockade of the key waterway responsible for 20% of global oil flow may not simply be escalation but a form of leverage. Nasr is Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington. The full interview will be broadcast again on Wednesday at 9am, 12pm, 3pm and 6pm on Express24/7.

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Blockades frustrate capital residents

Citizens of the federal capital are increasingly voicing anger over heavy police check posts and road blockades set up on almost every major and minor road within the city, saying the measures are causing severe daily inconvenience while failing to improve security. Commuters report long queues, frequent vehicle searches, and traffic jams that have turned routine travel into a nightmare. "We are stuck for hours every day," said a resident of F-8 sector. "Schools, offices, and hospitals are all affected. This is not security - this is harassment. Public frustration has peaked following the recent cold-blooded murder of a prominent businessman in Islamabad. According to eyewitnesses and police sources, a group of armed men arrived at his residence, opened fire, killed him and injured others, then fled the scene without any resistance. Despite the dense network of check posts across the city, the attackers reportedly escaped easily. "When criminals want to do something, they come, commit the crime, and go freely," one angry resident told local media. "But law-abiding citizens are the ones suffering at every corner." Many point out that the heavy internal checkpoints have done little to stop serious crimes while severely disrupting normal life. Residents and traders have now started demanding immediate relief. A growing number of people are calling for check posts to be removed from inside the city limits and restricted only to entry and exit points of Islamabad. "Check posts at the main entrances of the city make sense for screening outsiders," said a local trader association member. "But putting barriers on every internal road is pointless and counterproductive. It only creates problems for residents and gives criminals time to escape while we are delayed." Several social media campaigns and resident welfare groups have begun raising the issue, urging the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration and police to review the security strategy. Official Response Awaited When contacted, Islamabad police officials defended the checkpoints, saying they were put in place after intelligence reports of possible threats. However, they acknowledged receiving multiple complaints about traffic disruption and promised to "review the placement of some barriers." As public discontent grows, the recent murder incident has become a flashpoint, with many questioning whether the current blanket security approach is actually making the capital safer or simply more chaotic. Further protests and meetings by residents are expected in the coming days if the situation is not addressed. Traders protest smart lockdown On the other hand, traders in Murree staged a strong protest against the smart lockdown and the 8pm closure of markets, observing a shutter-down strike and holding a rally on Mall Road under the banner of the Central Anjuman-e-Tajran Murree. Addressing the protest, trader leaders including President Sohrab Abbasi, Chairman Mirza Suhail Baig, General Secretary Haji Nisar Abbasi, Senior Vice President Munawar Ameen Abbasi, Vice President Raja Zahid Ismail, and Information Secretary Shahid Mumtaz Abbasi termed the decision to close Mall Road and other markets at 8pm under the smart lockdown as unjust. They said tourists, after spending the day at various recreational spots, face difficulties when they visit Mall Road at night, only to find it closed. Due to the strike call, all shops and markets remained closed, bringing business activity to a standstill and causing inconvenience to visitors. However, tourists expressed solidarity with the traders and demanded that Murree be exempted from the smart lockdown restrictions. The protesting traders said the measures have badly affected tourism activities and the local economy, which depends entirely on tourism. They added that business and employment opportunities have been severely impacted. The Central Anjuman-e-Tajran Murree urged Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to exempt Murree from the smart lockdown in view of its importance as a tourist destination. With additional input from DNA

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