Day: October 21, 2020

Jalalabad: At least 15 people died in a stampede near a Pakistani consulate in Jalalabad on Wednesday.

Official sources say an estimated 3000 Afghans had gathered in a sports ground outside the consulate, waiting to collect tokens needed to apply for a visa, when the stampede occurred.

However, Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul expressed its deep grief and sadness over the loss of life during a stampede that occurred on Tuesday, killing at least 15 Afghan nationals and injuring several others.

As per a press release issued by the embassy on Wednesday, the stampede occurred in an open ground – five kilometers away from the Pakistan consulate in Jalalabad – “where applicants for Pakistani visa were being gathered and organised by the Afghan authorities”.

“We sympathise with the families of those who have lost their lives and those who have been injured in this unfortunate incident,” the statement read.

However, the communiqué further stressed that, in view of the of brotherly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the embassy in Kabul and consulates in Jalalabad, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif continue to issue multiple entry visas to the Afghan applicants for their visits to Pakistan for family, business, medical treatment, education and other purposes.

“Pakistan has recently announced its new visa policy for enhanced facilitation to Afghan nationals for long term multiple entry visas which is being implemented by the Embassy and Consulates in Afghanistan,” the press release stated.

The embassy further stated that it remains committed to ensuring smooth and effective management of visa applicants at their end.

“We seek the understanding and cooperation of Afghan people and authorities for better and secure management of the Afghan visa applicants,” the press release concluded.

LARKANA: Two cops were injured in bandits firing in the riverine area of Bakrani Taluka near Larkana on Wednesday.

A police team was conducting a search operation within the limits of Illahi Bux Siyal police station jurisdiction near Bakrani when bandits opened fire on it, leaving two cops injured.

The injured were identified as Muzafar Khalidi, PSO to the SSP, and constable Ihsan Jhatyal. They were brought to the Chandka Medical College Hospital for treatment.

The injured policemen told newsmen that they were on a search operation mission in the riverine area of Bakrani taluka when a gang of criminals suddenly appeared and opened fire at them in which they were injured.

SSP Masood Bangash visited the hospital and inquired about the health of his subordinates. He claimed that soon the accused would be brought to justice.

LARKANA: The contract employees of Radio Pakistan Larkana held a protest demonstration here on Wednesday against the proposed retrenchment of 749 contract and daily wage employees by Radio Pakistan Islamabad headquarters.

The protesters Mushtaque Tunio, Ashfaque Bhatti, Komal Abbasi, Rubina Riyaz and others urged the federal information minister to withdraw the proposed order without delay, regularize services of the affected employees, pay six-month’s outstanding salaries or else, they warned, they would enlarge the scope of their demonstration.

Jacobabad: A laborer was electrocuted in Jacobabad on Wednesday.

Sallahuddin, a resident of Nawabshah, was conducting labor work in the city when he touched a drill machine and received severe electric shocks. He fell unconscious and died on the spot.

The body was shifted to a local hospital for medico-legal formalities and later handed over to the colleagues. The incident has created a mourning atmosphere.