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Rains And Floods
Destruction and damage continues as monsoon rain in Pakistan triggers flash floods resulting in loss of human lives and damage to infrastructure including bridges, roads and highways across the country. More than 900,000 people in 2,495 villages has been effected across Pakistan. The death toll has risen to 169. Disaster management authorities and government machinery may need to speed up not only rescue work but also take preventive measures as Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rains in vulnerable areas in coming week, which may generate flash flooding.
Azad jammu Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkwa are heavily affected by recent rains. Met office also forecast heavy but scattered rains across Punjab and Kashmir for hours with interval. Meanwhile rescue operations are underway in flood- hit areas as thousands of affectees have been rescued by aid workers and Pakistan army through helicopters and boats. According to ISPR damaged roads that disconnected many villages from the highway have been restored. Relief operations are also underway in Sindh and Punjab areas that are badly affected by rains and floods.
MQM+Sindh Situation
Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday disclosed that the government was gearing up to file against MQM Chief Altaf Hussain in London. A day earlier, during the telephonic address at MQM’s annual convention in Dallas, USA, Hussain had asked his party workers to stage protests in front of the United Nations, White House and NATO in order to raise a demand for sending their troops to Karachi. Addressing his party workers, the MQM Chief flayed the law enforcers that are carrying out a clean-up operation in violence-ridden Karachi against target killers, extortionists and kidnapping for ransom.
Various parties have submitted resolutions against Altaf Hussain in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu Kashmir assemblies. AJK PM told his two ministers from MQM to either disown Hussain’s statements or resign from the cabinet within 72 hours. Hussain’s provocative statements against Pakistan Army are being condemned throughout the country. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah criticizes actions taken by FIA and NAB in Sindh. He said that FIA has raided government offices, taken away files and arrested some employees while the NAB had arrested the excise and taxation secretary from Shikarpur. He also criticized MQM Chief for seeking help from foreign countries, particularly India. Shah further said, “No true Pakistani could think of seeking Indian interference in the affairs of country.”
On the other hand, Sindh Rangers have asked MQM to hand over 187 target killers, who are wanted for killing police personnel, who participated in 1990s Karachi operation against criminals.
Terrorism
Al Qaeda’s Chief of South Punjab, Baluchistan killed in Chagai District. Baluchistan Home Minister said that Al Qaeda Chief Mullah Omar Abdul Latif has been killed in operation by law enforcers. Security forces have also arrested Omar’s wife identified as Tayyaba alias Fareeha Baji near Pak-Afghan border.
On the contrary, Afghan spy agency banned all mourning ceremonies for deceased Taliban Chief Mullah Omer warning that any gathering condoling his death would be a legitimate target for Afghan forces.
Whereas General Raheel Sharif told Media, “We are fully prepared to respond to any spectrum of threat.” Corps commander warned detractors and spoilers against sabotaging the Afghanistan peace talks being held in Pakistan.
Supreme Court validates military courts. A 17 member full court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Nasir ul Mulk upheld the 21st Constitutional Amendment with majority of decisions of 11 to six. The court also dismissed petition challenging the 18th Constitutional Amendment act by a majority of 14 to 3.
Punjab government claimed to have smashed a terror gang by nailing its five members near Shahdara, Lahore. According to government, the detainees confessed of unleashing attacks on Model Town investigation police in 2010, Qilla Gujjar Singh police line on February 17, 2015 and Youhanabad churches in March 2015.
Pak-India Relations
Pakistan releases 163 Indian fishermen as a gesture of goodwill; those fishermen had been arrested by the country’s maritime security agency for trespassing on Pakistan’s territorial waters. The prisoners, apprehended 10 months ago after straying in Pakistan’s territorial water, were released from Malir District Jail, Karachi.
Indian shelling terrifies civilians. Heavy mortar shelling by India in Bajwat Sector of the Sialkot working boundary killed three people, a minor among them, and injured 22 people, including eight women and six children. District Coordination Officer Dr. Asif Tufail confirmed these figures. Besides, 65 domestic animals also died in the shelling. According to Punjab Rangers, the Indian Border Security Force resorted to shelling at 5.30 AM which continued intermittently till 1.30 PM.
A wish comes true for Indian girl, Geeta. The Indian girl living at the Edhi Home at Meethadar for over 12 years now, was paid a visit by the Indian High Commissioner DR T.C.A Raghavan and Mrs Raghavan who brought her good tidings from India along with several gifts.
Militant captured in IHK belongs to Pakistan, says India. Indian Interior Minister Rajnath Singh claimed that the militants who attacked the convoy of Paramilitary Border Security Force in occupied Jammu and Kashmir belonged to Pakistan. While addressing the lawmakers in the upper house of parliament in New Delhi, Singh commented that one Pakistani militant was captured after a deadly attack on a military convoy in the occupied Kashmir.
Share information about the captured militant with Pakistan. Foreign Ministry spokesman Syed Qazi Khalilullah said that Pakistan had asked India to share information about a main arrested in India who they claim belongs to Pakistan and have attacked the convoy of Border security Force in Srinagar, Indian-held Kashmir. “We have also seen media reports and I would not offer any comment on that basis. We expect Indian authorities to share information with us on the claims that are being made in media,” Khalilullah said.
Other News
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