Seven Afghan civilians killed in NATO air strike

KABUL: Seven civilians, three of them children, were killed and five others wounded in a NATO air strike targeting insurgents in restive southern Afghanistan, a local official said Saturday.

The governor of Helmand province said the two men, two women and three children died when the car they were travelling in was hit by NATO fire late Friday.

Earlier, NATO said its International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) called in an air strike on two vehicles believed to be carrying a Taliban leader and his associates, but later discovered they were transporting civilians.

“ISAF forces fired on a vehicle carrying insurgents,” said a statement from Helmand governor Muhammad Gulab Mangal”s office.

“The explosion hit another vehicle in which civilians were travelling, and as a result two men, two women and three children were killed and a man, a woman and three other children were wounded.”

NATO said it had launched an investigation into the incident, which came after nine people — who Afghan officials said were children collecting firewood — were killed in a NATO airstrike in eastern Kunar province this month.

Civilian casualties in military operations are highly sensitive in Afghanistan as coalition troops battle to curb a Taliban-led insurgency ahead of a planned handover of security to Afghan forces.

The Kunar strike unleashed public fury, leading the US troop commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, to issue a rare public apology. (AFP)

6.3-Magnitude Earthquake hits Pakistan

Breaking News

trendpk: A major earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 hit various parts of country including Islamabad, Peshawar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Two children were injured when panic prevailed in Mansehra.

According to Met Office, the earthquake jolted Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Kphat, Swat, Mardan, Malakand, Mansehra, Rawlakot, Jhehlum and Haripur at 7.45am. The epicenter of the earthquake is said to be in Tajikistan.

Earlier, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake jolted southwestern Pakistan on January 18 but caused minimal damage.

During 2010, total 1981 people killed in Karachi: HRCP Report

KARACHI: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s (HRCP) Sindh Chapter has released its statistics report of Karachi’s violence and killings for the year 2010.

According to the HRCP report, total 1981 people were killed during last year and among them 1726 men, 177 women and 78 children were included.

HRCP report describes that 748 persons became victims of increased target killing incidents in the city while 133 persons committed suicides in the cases of domestic problems, unemployment and poverty. Among 133 suicide victims, 98 men and 35 women were included.

HRCP report describes further that during year 2010, 18 women were burnt to death, 7 were killed in the name of honor and six were killed when they refused to marry against will. TrendPK

12 children killed as van plunges into ravine in Muzaffarabad

Staff Report

MUZAFFARABAD: At least twelve children were killed as a school van fell in a deep ravine in Muzaffarabad, SAMAA learnt Tuesday.

The van was carrying 30 children.

According to sources, the van plunged near Hatian Dupatta in River Jehlum, after the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle.

The dead bodies of twelve children have been recovered; more casualties are feared.

“Driver and three children were rescued,” said police.

Rescue teams and divers are engaged in searching for the remaining children.

A month ago, a bus plunged into River Jehlum, leaving 40 people dead. The incident was due to overspeeding. SAMAA

Three more children fall prey to gastro in relief camp

Staff Report

KARACHI: Three more children died on Wednesday after suffering from gastric diseases, SAMAA reported on Wednesday.

According to reports, several children were brought to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital in critical conditions.

However, three of the admitted children, residents of Jacobabad, died of Gastroenteritis. They were living at a relief camp in Sohrab Goth. Two children were identified as Ali Soomro and Reshman while another 3-year-old body has yet to be identified. The dead bodies were shifted to Edhi mortgage in Sohrab Goth.

Meanwhile, Town Municipal Officer and Town Infrastructure Officer were suspended for their failure to provide relief in the relief camp.

Two days ago, two children, Iman Din and Muhammad Bux, also died due to gastro-related diseases in Karachi. SAMAA

US to provide food, relief goods in KP flood zone

PESHAWAR: The United States is going to provide ready-meals for the flood-affectees and temporary bridges to help restore the communication infrastructure in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Some 56,000 (ready) meals will arrive in Pakistan to help the government provide food to the survivors of monsoon rains and floods,” US embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire said while talking to media on the phone from Islamabad. “Some of the meals will reach (Pakistan) by Saturday evening and some on Sunday,” he added.

Floods have devastated Swat, Lower Dir, Shangla, Charsadda, Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan and Nowshera districts.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Friday had appealed to the international community for urgent assistance to cope with the worst floods in the areas in 80 years, as relief and rescue operations are beyond the provincial government’s capacity.

“Twelve temporary bridges will also be provided by the US government to help restore communication means in affected areas,” the US embassy spokesman said. Some 22 bridges were washed away by floods in Swat district alone, while similar damage has been reported from other areas.

The US has ordered two water filtration plants from Dubai that are likely to reach Pakistan in the next 24 to 48 hours, the US official said. A senior government official said the ready-meals would be airlifted from Bagram airbase near Kabul.

He said the provincial government would welcome NATO involvement in the rescue and relief operations. “We are in contact with the National Disaster Management Authority to help assist in rescue and relief operations,” Snelsire said.

Five kids die in Sialkot house collapse

SIALKOT: At least five children lost their lives while two men suffered injuries after being trampled under the roof of a collapsed house here in Sialkot during Saturday midnight, Geo News reported.

The torrential rains caused house collapse in Gohar Pur village located in the outskirts of Sialkot, police said.

After the accident, Rescue 1122 immediately rushed to location and pulled five children and their parents from the rubble to find children dead while parents were injured.

Injured persons have been shifted to hospital.

Died children were identified as Imran, Sana Ali, Raza, Ghulam Abbad and Salman, sources said.

Security man martyred in Mohmand check post attack

PESHAWAR: A security man martyred and three others wounded when militants targeted a security checkpoint with mortar shells in Mohmand Agency.

Security forces sources said militants fired mortar shells on Friday night at Koda Khel check post in tehsil Baizai killing a security man and injuring three others. Two militants were killed during retaliatory action of security forces.

Operation against militants is underway in tehsil Baizai since one year and more than 100 militants have been killed so far.

Woman, 3 kids found dead on rail track

RAHIM YAR KHAN: At least three minor children and a woman were found dead on a rail track who were reportedly killed by throwing themselves under a train near Rahim Yar Khan on early Saturday, Geo news reported.

According to police sources, the deceased family probably died of being knocked down by a rushing Millat Express Train in Pir Shaheedan locality in Rahim Yar Khan.

The place of accident lies under jurisdiction of Saddar police station, sources told media.

The children were apparently aged between 2 to 10 years; meanwhile, dead bodies have been shifted to Sheikh Zaid Hospital here.

This incident could be either an accident or a suicide; police said adding that nothing could be ascertained before completion of probe.

Corpses have yet to be identified, police said further.

Thunderstorm wreaks havoc in Lahore; 16 killed

LAHORE: Sixteen people have been killed and 25 others injured as weather turned rough, unleashing thunderstorm and hailstorm across Punjab’s capital city of Lahore, where helicopter of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif who was to take an aerial tour Ring Road also had to make emergency landing, Geo News reported Friday.

Gail winds, dust and thunderstorm made walls of a number of houses, sign boards of commercial plazas, billboards and trees to collapse, damaging vehicles and causing severe traffic jams.

The Met Office put the speed of the wind at 40 knots per mile.

Four children were killed when a wall of a house in Shadbagh Town caved in.

Seven persons including three children died in Shahidrah and Rana Town. Three were killed in Gujranwala while two children crushed when a wall of a house came down in Shaikhupura.

Many vehicles smashed into each other on motorway, however, no casualties were reported.

Several trees fell across Lahore, blocking the traffic.

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