PECA case filed against Nooreen Niazi over alleged anti-state remarks

More than 4,000 police personnel will be deployed in Rawalpindi division to ensure security during the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections on August 2. Police officials have prepared a detailed security plan for polling in four constituencies of the division, including Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal and Murree. A total of 4,029 police officers will be assigned duties at 175 polling stations. The polling stations have been divided into three categories according to their security requirements. Category A includes highly sensitive stations, Category B covers sensitive locations, while Category C consists of normal polling stations. Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer Babar Sarfraz Alpa said providing voters with a safe and peaceful environment is the top priority. He added that all available resources would be used to ensure free and transparent elections. He said strict monitoring would be carried out at sensitive polling stations. Additional patrolling and surveillance measures would remain active throughout the polling process. Police officials will also monitor suspicious activities, illegal weapons and any violations of the election code of conduct. Legal action will be taken against individuals involved in disrupting the electoral process. In Rawalpindi district, more than 3,100 police personnel and 200 traffic police officials will be deployed at 100 polling stations. These stations are located in different areas, including Rawalpindi city, Taxila, Wah Cantt, Gujar Khan, Kallar Syedan and Kahuta. Among the 100 polling stations, 18 have been declared highly sensitive, 45 sensitive and 37 normal. Security arrangements have also been made for the safe transportation of polling materials. City Police Officer Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera said the police would ensure implementation of the Election Commission’s rules and maintain law and order until the completion of the election process. The AJK elections are being conducted in phases due to security concerns. Authorities have increased security measures after previous election-related tensions and allegations of irregularities.

QUETTA: The search and rescue operation at the site of the deadly coal mine explosion near Quetta concluded on Saturday after rescuers recovered the bodies of the last two trapped miners. With the latest recovery, the death toll from the tragedy has reached 34. The explosion took place on Thursday at a privately operated coal mine in the Sorange coalfield, located around 30 kilometres northeast of Quetta. Officials said a buildup of methane gas triggered a powerful explosion, causing a fire inside the mine and leading to its collapse. The blast also affected another nearby mine. Balochistan Chief Inspector of Mines Muhammad Atif confirmed that all 34 miners trapped underground had now been recovered. He said rescue teams worked continuously under difficult conditions to retrieve the remaining two bodies after recovering 32 victims on Friday. Following the completion of the rescue mission, authorities sealed both mines and launched a formal investigation into the incident. A team of mining experts has been formed to determine the exact cause of the explosion and examine whether all required safety measures had been followed. Officials said all the deceased miners belonged to Shangla district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Their bodies have been transported to their hometowns, where funeral prayers and burials will be held. Authorities said 23 of the victims were residents of Pirabad, a village that has repeatedly suffered losses in coal mining accidents. Local representatives said most of the miners were young men between the ages of 17 and 25. Community leaders said many of the victims belonged to the same families and were close relatives. Some of the deceased had already lost their fathers in previous mining accidents, reflecting the continued dangers faced by families dependent on coal mining for their livelihood. According to officials, 24 miners were working nearly 4,000 feet underground in the mine where the methane gas explosion occurred. The remaining workers were trapped in another nearby mine that was also affected by the blast. The tragedy has once again highlighted concerns over working conditions and safety standards in Pakistan’s coal mining sector. Labour organisations have repeatedly called for stronger enforcement of mining regulations, improved ventilation systems and better emergency preparedness to reduce the risk of fatal accidents. Coal mining remains one of the country’s most dangerous occupations. Workers face constant threats from gas explosions, mine collapses, toxic fumes, suffocation and long-term respiratory diseases caused by prolonged exposure to coal dust.

SKARDU: Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of celebrated British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja and three members of his expedition from Broad Peak after a difficult recovery mission, the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) confirmed. The recovery operation was carried out in extremely challenging weather and terrain. The bodies of Purja, Chinese climber Zhong Wang, and Nepali climbers Nima Sherpa and Kilu Sherpa were successfully brought to Broad Peak Base Camp. The tragic incident occurred on July 30, when an avalanche struck the 10-member international expedition while climbing Broad Peak, one of the world’s highest mountains. Contact with the team was lost immediately after the avalanche. Purja’s company later confirmed that there were no survivors from the expedition. Despite the successful recovery of four bodies, three climbers remain missing. The Alpine Club of Pakistan said search efforts would continue whenever weather and mountain conditions permit. The organization reaffirmed its commitment to locating the remaining climbers so their families can receive closure. Earlier, the bodies of three other expedition members—an American woman, an Omani woman and a Nepali climber—were airlifted from the mountain to Skardu. However, the bodies of two Nepali nationals and one Pakistani climber have yet to be recovered. The deaths have deeply affected the global mountaineering community. Fellow climbers and mountaineering organizations have paid tribute to the victims, describing the loss as a major blow to high-altitude climbing. The Alpine Club of Pakistan said arrangements are being made to return the recovered bodies to their families. The organization expressed hope that the recovery would provide some comfort to the bereaved families and allow the climbers to be laid to rest with dignity.

The National Assembly Secretariat has suspended security assistant Waqas Ahmed over alleged misuse of official powers. According to an official notification issued by the National Assembly Secretariat, the security official has been removed from his existing duties and directed to report immediately to the Human Resources Management Branch. The notification did not provide detailed information about the specific incident or circumstances that led to the disciplinary action. However, it stated that the suspension was linked to the alleged misuse of authority. The development comes as the National Assembly Secretariat continues to enforce administrative and disciplinary measures among its employees to ensure compliance with official rules and regulations. Waqas Ahmed has been instructed to follow the directions contained in the notification and report to the designated HR branch without delay. Further action in the matter is expected after the relevant authorities examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged violation.

Pakistan has assumed the presidency of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament (CD), taking a leading role in international discussions on arms control and global security. Additional Secretary for Arms Control and Disarmament Tahir Hussain Andrabi is representing Pakistan and will preside over the conference’s meetings during the presidency. Pakistan holds the final presidency of the CD’s 2026 session. It will therefore oversee the conclusion of the conference’s proceedings for the year and guide work on its annual report and the related resolution for the UN General Assembly’s First Committee. As part of the opening activities, Ambassador Andrabi chaired a meeting with former presidents of the conference for the 2026 session. He also held consultations with representatives of different regional groups. The Conference on Disarmament, headquartered at the United Nations Office in Geneva, is the principal multilateral forum for negotiating international disarmament and arms-control agreements. The forum has 65 member states, including countries that possess nuclear weapons. Its discussions cover some of the most sensitive issues affecting international peace and security. Key areas on its agenda include preventing a nuclear arms race, reducing the risk of nuclear war and stopping the weaponisation of outer space. The conference and its predecessor bodies have played a significant role in developing major international security agreements. These include the Biological Weapons Convention, Chemical Weapons Convention and Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Pakistan’s presidency comes at a time when nuclear risks, arms competition and emerging security challenges remain major concerns for the international community. The Foreign Office said Pakistan’s leadership of the conference reflects international confidence in its diplomatic role and its continued engagement in multilateral arms-control efforts.