Helicopter carrying Iran’s president suffers a ‘hard landing,’ state TV says without further details

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office said on Monday it has activated its crisis management cell and was trying to ascertain the identities of the deceased after a ship carrying 65 passengers, among them Pakistani nationals, capsized near the coast of Libya. 

Each year thousands of Pakistanis pay large sums to traffickers to launch risky and illegal journeys to Europe, where they hope to find work and send funds to support families back home.

The foreign office spokesperson said Pakistan’s embassy in Tripoli informed that the vessel capsized near the port of Marsa Dela, in the northwest of Zawiya city in Libya. It added that the Pakistan embassy in Tripoli dispatched a team to Zawiya hospital to assist local authorities in identifying the deceased. 

“The Embassy is also trying to ascertain further details of the Pakistani affectees,” the statement said. “The Crisis Management Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been activated to monitor the situation.”

The foreign office shared cell phone numbers and an email address for those seeking further information on the matter. 

The incident takes place amid Pakistan’s crackdown on human trafficking rings that arrange such perilous journeys via sea for migrants. Pakistanis are frequently among those drowned on crammed boats which sink on the Mediterranean Sea separating North Africa from Europe, considered the world’s deadliest migrant route.

A boat carrying 86 migrants to Europe, including several Pakistanis, capsized near Morocco on January 16, rights group Walking Borders said.

In 2023, hundreds of migrants, including 262 Pakistanis, drowned when an overcrowded vessel sank in international waters off the southwestern Greek town of Pylos, marking one of the deadliest boat disasters ever recorded in the Mediterranean Sea. 

More recently, five Pakistani nationals died in a shipwreck off the southern Greek island of Gavdos on Dec. 14.
 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s injured right-arm fast bowler Haris Rauf is expected to be “fully recovered” ahead of this month’s ICC Champions Trophy tournament, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said recently, brushing aside concerns he would be ruled out of the tournament. 

Rauf sustained a muscular sprain in the lower chest wall region during Pakistan’s match against New Zealand on Saturday, triggering fears the bowler would be ruled out of the tournament. Along with pacers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Rauf is an essential part of the South Asian country’s pace attack.

“The injury is not serious and he is expected to be fully recovered for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which commences in Karachi on 19 February,” the PCB said on Sunday. “However, as a precautionary measure and part of his ongoing rehabilitation, he will not be available for selection against South Africa on 12 February.”

Pakistan are already reeling from in-form left-handed batter Saim Ayub’s absence, who was ruled out of the tournament after suffering an ankle injury while fielding against South Africa last month. Ayub’s injury has made room for left-arm batter Fakhar Zaman, who scored an impressive 84 runs from 69 balls against New Zealand on Saturday. 

Pakistan are currently playing a tri-nation series against South Africa and New Zealand in Karachi and Lahore cities respectively. The series, seen as a warm-up ahead of the 50-over Champions Trophy tournament, will conclude on Feb. 14. 

Pakistan lost the opening match of the tournament against New Zealand in Lahore by 78 runs. The tourists amassed 330/6 at the end of their 50 overs, which was too much for Pakistan who were bundled out for 252 runs in 47.5 overs.