Huge blast in Lebanon, 78 killed, nearly 4,000 injured

Lebanese rescue workers dug through the rubble looking for survivors of a powerful warehouse explosion that shook the capital Beirut, killing 78 people and injuring nearly 4,000 in a toll that officials expected to rise.

Tuesday’s blast at port warehouses storing highly explosive material was the most powerful in years in Beirut, already reeling from an economic crisis and a surge in coronavirus infections.

President Michel Aoun said that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, used in fertilisers and bombs, had been stored for six years at the port without safety measures, and he said that was “unacceptable”.

He called for an emergency cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Officials did not say what caused the blaze that set off the blast. A security source and local media said it was started by welding work being carried out on a hole in the warehouse.

“What we are witnessing is a huge catastrophe,” the head of Lebanon’s Red Cross George Kettani told broadcaster Mayadeen. “There are victims and casualties everywhere.”

Hours after the blast, which struck shortly after 6 p.m. (1500 GMT), a fire still blazed in the port district, casting an orange glow across the night sky as helicopters hovered and ambulance sirens sounded across the capital.

The blast revived memories of a 1975-90 civil war and its aftermath, when Lebanese endured heavy shelling, car bombings and Israeli air raids. Some residents thought an earthquake had struck.

Dazed, weeping and injured people walked through streets searching for relatives.

“The blast blew me off metres away. I was in a daze and was all covered in blood. It brought back the vision of another explosion I witnessed against the U.S. embassy in 1983,” said Huda Baroudi, a Beirut designer.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab promised there would be accountability for the deadly blast at the “dangerous warehouse”, adding “those responsible will pay the price.”

The U.S. embassy in Beirut warned residents about reports of toxic gases released by the blast, urging people to stay indoors and wear masks if available.

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COAS discusses security matters with serving, retired military officers

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa met senior serving and retired military officers to discuss security and other professional matters, on Tuesday.

"The COAS had an interactive session on wide ranging issues including professional matters, security situation in the region, measures to optimise dividends of peace and stability and also the challenges and opportunities," read a statement from the ISPR.

The meeting took place at Corps Headquarters Lahore where the army chief was given multifarious suggestions by participants who thanked him for the candid discussion.

Participants of the meeting included General Jehangir Karamat (retd), General Ahsan Saleem Hyat (retd), General Tariq Majid (retd), General Rashad Mahmood (retd) and General Raheel Sharif (retd).

Earlier on arrival, COAS was received by Lieutenant General Majid Ehsan, Commander Lahore Corps.

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India imposes 'full curfew' in occupied Kashmir

Indian authorities on Monday night issued the order to impose a "full curfew" in occupied Kashmir, a day before the one-year anniversary of August 5 when the Modi-led government stripped the region of its autonomy, generating widespread criticism and rebuke.

Officials announced a two-day "full curfew" citing intelligence reports of looming protests in the Muslim-majority region of seven million people, where locals have called for the anniversary to be marked as a "black day".

Police vehicles patrolled the main city Srinagar after dark on Monday and again on Tuesday morning, with officers using megaphones to order residents to remain indoors.

A "full curfew" means people can only move around with an official pass, usually reserved for essential services such as police and ambulances.

The Himalayan region is already subject to restrictions to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, with most economic activities limited and public movement curtailed.

On Monday morning, new razor-wire and steel barricades were placed on main roads on Srinagar, and on Tuesday thousands of government troops fanned across the city and surrounding villages.

"Police in vehicles moved through our locality and from loudspeakers ordered us to stay indoors for two days -- as if we were not already caged," said Imriyaz Ali, who lives in the Srinagar old town.

"I saw mobile phones of two of my neighbours taken away by soldiers when they got out to buy bread from a local baker early in the morning," said one villager by phone from Nazneenpora village.

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Supreme Court asks govt to submit response on APS report

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the government to submit its response on the report into the Army Public School (APS) massacre that killed 144 children six years ago.

The directives were issued by a two-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, hearing the case related to the APS massacre. The bench directed that the APS report should be submitted to the attorney general and asked him to take instructions from the government and inform the court.

During the hearing, parents of the martyred schoolchildren appeared before the apex court and asked the bench to provide them with justice.

“What happened to you was very wrong. This should have not happened at any cost,” remarked the chief justice after hearing the parents. Justice Gulzar added that he 'empathised' with the parents.

The dejected parents, after listening to the top judge, told the court that they cannot live in Pakistan as their kids are not 'safe' in the country.

“Do not say such things. The court will give its decision on the facts that included in this report,” Justice Gulzar assured the parents. He also asked them what they wanted in 'justice'.

“We should be provided a copy of the report,” the parents responded to the CJP.

The CJP informed the parents that it was a secret report and the attorney general was being given a copy of that. He added that the apex court will speak according to the Constitution and law.

“We formed the commission and we will take it to its logical end,” said the CJP. He also vowed that the court will not 'let go' those who were responsible for the shortcomings.

Last month, the commission set up to probe the APS attack submitted an over 3000-page report to the Supreme Court.

The commission was set up on the directives of the then chief justice Saqib Nisar on the request of the parents and families of the martyrs in 2018.

Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Khan of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) headed the commission.

According to the focal person of the APS Commission, Imranullah, the statements of 132 people were recorded by the commission that was formed four years after the attack. They also included over 30 officials of police, army, home department and others concerned.

Over 140 people, including 132 children were martyred in a terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar on December 16, 2014.

The incident is considered as one of the worst terrorist attacks in the country and in the region that shook the entire world.

The government had launched a National Action Plan across the country after the incident to go after the terrorist groups and improve the law and order.

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COAS discusses security matters with serving, retired military officers

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa met senior serving and retired military officers to discuss security and other professional matters, on Tuesday.

"The COAS had an interactive session on wide ranging issues including professional matters, security situation in the region, measures to optimise dividends of peace and stability and also the challenges and opportunities," read a statement from the ISPR.

The meeting took place at Corps Headquarters Lahore where the army chief was given multifarious suggestions by participants who thanked him for the candid discussion.

Participants of the meeting included General Jehangir Karamat (retd), General Ahsan Saleem Hyat (retd), General Tariq Majid (retd), General Rashad Mahmood (retd) and General Raheel Sharif (retd).

Earlier on arrival, COAS was received by Lieutenant General Majid Ehsan, Commander Lahore Corps.

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India imposes 'full curfew' in occupied Kashmir

Indian authorities on Monday night issued the order to impose a "full curfew" in occupied Kashmir, a day before the one-year anniversary of August 5 when the Modi-led government stripped the region of its autonomy, generating widespread criticism and rebuke.

Officials announced a two-day "full curfew" citing intelligence reports of looming protests in the Muslim-majority region of seven million people, where locals have called for the anniversary to be marked as a "black day".

Police vehicles patrolled the main city Srinagar after dark on Monday and again on Tuesday morning, with officers using megaphones to order residents to remain indoors.

A "full curfew" means people can only move around with an official pass, usually reserved for essential services such as police and ambulances.

The Himalayan region is already subject to restrictions to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, with most economic activities limited and public movement curtailed.

On Monday morning, new razor-wire and steel barricades were placed on main roads on Srinagar, and on Tuesday thousands of government troops fanned across the city and surrounding villages.

"Police in vehicles moved through our locality and from loudspeakers ordered us to stay indoors for two days -- as if we were not already caged," said Imriyaz Ali, who lives in the Srinagar old town.

"I saw mobile phones of two of my neighbours taken away by soldiers when they got out to buy bread from a local baker early in the morning," said one villager by phone from Nazneenpora village.

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Supreme Court asks govt to submit response on APS report

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the government to submit its response on the report into the Army Public School (APS) massacre that killed 144 children six years ago.

The directives were issued by a two-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, hearing the case related to the APS massacre. The bench directed that the APS report should be submitted to the attorney general and asked him to take instructions from the government and inform the court.

During the hearing, parents of the martyred schoolchildren appeared before the apex court and asked the bench to provide them with justice.

“What happened to you was very wrong. This should have not happened at any cost,” remarked the chief justice after hearing the parents. Justice Gulzar added that he 'empathised' with the parents.

The dejected parents, after listening to the top judge, told the court that they cannot live in Pakistan as their kids are not 'safe' in the country.

“Do not say such things. The court will give its decision on the facts that included in this report,” Justice Gulzar assured the parents. He also asked them what they wanted in 'justice'.

“We should be provided a copy of the report,” the parents responded to the CJP.

The CJP informed the parents that it was a secret report and the attorney general was being given a copy of that. He added that the apex court will speak according to the Constitution and law.

“We formed the commission and we will take it to its logical end,” said the CJP. He also vowed that the court will not 'let go' those who were responsible for the shortcomings.

Last month, the commission set up to probe the APS attack submitted an over 3000-page report to the Supreme Court.

The commission was set up on the directives of the then chief justice Saqib Nisar on the request of the parents and families of the martyrs in 2018.

Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Khan of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) headed the commission.

According to the focal person of the APS Commission, Imranullah, the statements of 132 people were recorded by the commission that was formed four years after the attack. They also included over 30 officials of police, army, home department and others concerned.

Over 140 people, including 132 children were martyred in a terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar on December 16, 2014.

The incident is considered as one of the worst terrorist attacks in the country and in the region that shook the entire world.

The government had launched a National Action Plan across the country after the incident to go after the terrorist groups and improve the law and order.

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