Top National Thailand Stories From the Past Week: Nominee Crackdown Continues, and More

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.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Registrar’s Office has issued the cause list for the upcoming week. According to the cause list, eight benches will be available to hear cases during the week. These include six single benches and two division benches. The court has constituted two division benches to hear cases involving matters requiring consideration by two judges. The first division bench will comprise Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro and Justice Umair Majid Malik. The second division bench will consist of Justice Muhammad Asif and Justice Shah Rukh Arjumand. The cause list also includes six single benches. These benches will hear cases assigned to individual judges during the upcoming week. The six single benches will comprise Justice Sarfraz Dogar, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro, Justice Muhammad Asif, Justice Ayaz Shaukat, Justice Umair Majid Malik and Justice Shah Rukh Arjumand. The Registrar’s Office has issued the schedule as part of the court’s regular judicial proceedings. Cases listed before the respective benches will be taken up according to the cause list. The cause list determines which cases are scheduled for hearing and which judges will hear them. Lawyers and litigants will appear before the relevant benches on the dates fixed by the court. The Islamabad High Court will continue hearing cases through the six single benches and two division benches during the coming week.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has introduced an evening shift for consular services to make it easier for citizens to access essential facilities outside conventional office hours. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced the new arrangement on Monday. Under the revised schedule, consular services will now remain available from 8am to 8pm, Monday through Friday. The extended hours are aimed at improving access to services and making the process more convenient for applicants who cannot visit government offices during normal working hours. The Foreign Office said the initiative is part of its broader effort to improve public service delivery and make consular facilities more citizen-friendly. Previously, consular services were generally available during standard government office hours. This created difficulties for people with work commitments and for overseas Pakistanis who needed to visit the ministry for documentation and other consular matters. The new evening shift will provide applicants with additional time to complete their requirements and access relevant services. The ministry has also issued a public notice outlining the revised working hours and arrangements for consular services. The Foreign Office said the initiative reflects its focus on improving efficiency, accessibility and the overall experience of citizens seeking consular assistance.