Rain, windstorms likely in upper parts

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Friday forecast rain-windstorms and thundershowers in the upper parts of the country during the weekend as moist currents from the Arabian Sea and a westerly wave are expected to influence weather conditions from Saturday. Also, the Emergency Response Committee (ERC), convened by the Prime Minister, reviewed and reinforced provincial and district level preparedness for Monsoon 2026 at a meeting held on Friday at NDMA headquarters in Islamabad with participation via video link. Chaired remotely by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal, the meeting heard detailed briefings from provincial chief secretaries and disaster management officials on contingency planning, resource deployment and public awareness campaigns. According to the PMD, rain-windstorms and thundershowers, with isolated heavy falls, are likely in Kashmir from the night of July 10 to July 13 with occasional gaps.

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Govt hikes petrol price by Rs13.18, high-speed diesel by Rs13.80

The federal government on Friday increased the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs13.18 and Rs13.80 per litre, respectively, for the next week, as global oil markets remain volatile following the recent escalation between the United States and Iran. According to a press release issued by the Petroleum Division, the new price of petrol has been fixed at Rs310.71 per litre, while HSD will cost Rs323.30 per litre. The revised prices will take effect from midnight on Friday. More to follow...

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Hanna Urak sit-in ends after talks with Balochistan govt

The five-day protest sit-in on Quetta's Airport Road against the Hanna Urak tragedy was peacefully called off on Friday following successful negotiations between Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and the protest committee. Participants immediately removed their protest tents and camps after the agreement. The Airport Road, which had remained blocked for five days, was fully reopened for all kinds of traffic. CM Bugti held detailed talks with the protest committee, heirs of the martyrs and tribal elders. The meeting was also attended by Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar, Senator Manzoor Ahmed Kakar, Quetta Division Commissioner Shahzeb Kakar, Special Assistant to CM on Information Shahid Rind, and other senior officials. Rind said the negotiations with the protest committee were successful. The heirs expressed confidence in CM Bugti’s assurances and announced the end of the protest. Speaking on the occasion, Bugti said he had been in constant contact with the protest committee since the first day and had made every possible effort for a peaceful, dignified and lasting resolution of the issue. “I have a long-standing relationship of respect and trust with the affected families and their elders, which will continue in the future as well,” he said. He assured that if any lapse or mistake occurred at any level from the government’s side, it would be acknowledged and corrected. The affected families would be provided every possible relief and support. The chief minister revealed that important decisions were taken in the Balochistan Apex Committee meeting in the presence of the prime minister and chief of defence forces, adding that full implementation of those decisions would be ensured. He announced that the heirs of the martyrs of the Hann Urak incident would receive financial compensation, government jobs would be provided to family members, and the Balochistan government would bear all educational expenses of the martyrs’ children. Read More: Civil-military leadership vows to stamp out terror Bugti reiterated the government’s resolve to take every possible step for the protection of lives and property of the people and to establish lasting peace in the province. It may be recalled that on July 5, unidentified armed men attacked the Hann Urak area of Kili Babri on the outskirts of Quetta, killing five civilians, injuring eight others, and abducting 11 people. In protest, the heirs and locals had blocked the Airport Road for five days, severely affecting city traffic. Meanwhile, Provincial Interior Minister Mir Ziaullah Langau confirmed that all 11 abductees were safely recovered. Ten were freed on Thursday night while one was released a day earlier. All were taken to Quetta safely. The health minister also confirmed the recovery, saying it was made possible through the joint efforts of the Balochistan government, law enforcement agencies and tribal elders.

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Convictions of Libya deportees rise to 64

The number of deportees from Libya and Greece convicted for attempting illegal migration has climbed to 64 after a local court on Thursday sentenced another man from Gujranwala, as authorities pressed ahead with a sweeping crackdown on human trafficking networks across central Punjab. A Special Judge Central in Gujranwala convicted a deportee under Section 17(1) of the Emigration Ordinance, 1979, which deals with unlawful emigration. The court sentenced him to the period already served in judicial custody and imposed a fine of Rs50,000. The latest conviction comes nearly a month after around 200 Pakistanis, intercepted by Libyan authorities while attempting to reach Italy by boat, were repatriated on two special flights with the assistance of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Of them, around 90 belonged to the Gujranwala region, where the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) launched prosecutions through its circles in Gujranwala, Gujrat and Sialkot. Over the past two weeks, special courts in Gujranwala, Gujrat and Sialkot have convicted 64 deportees in summary trials after they admitted to illegally crossing international borders. Most of those convicted received prison terms ranging from 10 to 15 days, along with fines between Rs25,000 and Rs50,000. According to the court rulings, the time already spent in judicial custody, generally between 10 and 15 days, was counted towards the sentence, allowing the convicts to secure their release after paying the fines imposed. The deportees were among at least 200 Pakistanis detained by Libyan authorities while attempting to board boats bound for Italy. Around 90 of the deportees belonged to the Gujranwala region. The FIA registered cases against them through its Gujranwala, Gujrat and Sialkot circles before producing them before the relevant courts.

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Five injured as rival student groups clash at Karachi University

At least five people were injured when a violent clash broke out between two rival student organisations at the University of Karachi (KU) on Thursday, triggering police intervention and heightened security on campus. According to police, the incident began with a heated verbal exchange between members of the two groups in the lobby of KU’s Department of International Relations. The situation quickly escalated into a physical altercation, spreading to nearby classrooms and even the staff room. Eyewitnesses reported that students from both sides attacked each other with sticks, leaving several individuals bloodied. Faculty members who attempted to defuse the situation also sustained minor injuries. Read: Disciplinary action initiated against students involved in KU clash A heavy contingent of police rushed to the scene upon receiving reports of the violence and managed to bring the situation under control. The injured students were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment, while affected teachers were administered first aid on campus. Police officials at Mobina Town police station confirmed that more than five students affiliated with the rival groups had been taken into custody. Police further said that investigations are underway, and cases will be registered based on complaints from both sides. Following the arrests, members of one student group staged a protest on University Road and Abul Hasan Isphahani Road, causing temporary disruption to traffic. Meanwhile, the university administration has launched its own inquiry to determine the circumstances leading to the clash. Security has been tightened in and around the Department of International Relations to prevent further incidents.

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Karachi court remands suspect for five days in alleged sexual assault, murder of six-year-old boy

A judicial magistrate on Thursday remanded the prime suspect in the alleged sexual assault and murder of a six-year-old boy in Karachi's Old City area to police custody for five days after investigators said he confessed to the crime. The child went missing from outside his home on Monday evening, and his decomposed body, stuffed in a sack, was found near his house the following night. The Napier police produced the suspect, identified as Hamza, before the court under tight security with his face covered. The investigating officer sought a 14-day physical remand, saying more time was required to interrogate the suspect. However, the district judicial magistrate (South) granted a five-day physical remand and directed police to submit a progress report at the next hearing. Read: Suspect arrested after missing 6-year-old boy found raped, murdered in Karachi's Old City area Police Surgeon Dr Sumaiyya confirmed that the child had been sexually assaulted and had also sustained a skull fracture. A case was registered at the Napier police station on the complaint of the victim's father. Police initially lodged the first information report under Section 3 of the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2018, and Section 364-A (kidnapping or abducting a person under the age of 14) of the Pakistan Penal Code. However, the investigating officer said sections relating to murder and rape were later added to the FIR. According to investigators, the suspect was the child's neighbour and was known to the family. Police said the boy trusted Hamza and would often ask him to buy him snacks. Investigators alleged that the suspect took advantage of a funeral in the neighbourhood on Monday, when many residents had gathered to attend the last rites of a resident, and lured the child to his flat. During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to sexually assaulting the child and strangling him after the boy started crying. Investigators further claimed that he admitted to sexually assaulting the child's body after the murder. According to investigators, the suspect told police he killed the child because he feared the boy could identify him. They said he then stuffed the body into a sack, wrapped it in a blanket, and concealed it inside a wardrobe. Police and residents searched the suspect's flat three times after the child's disappearance but failed to locate the body, investigators said. Also Read: Abducted boy found murdered According to police, the suspect later became alarmed as suspicion among residents grew and joined the search for the missing boy to divert attention from himself. CCTV footage showed the child had not left the neighbourhood, prompting investigators to focus on residents of the street. Police said that the suspect later threw the body from the window of his flat in an attempt to dispose of it, where it was spotted by local residents. Officers said the suspect was alone in the flat when they arrived. During interrogation, the suspect claimed that other individuals were involved in the crime. However, investigators said they believed he was making false claims to mislead the investigation. Police are also examining his previous criminal record and investigating whether he may have been involved in similar offences against other children.

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New land record fees come into effect

The Punjab government has revised charges for land record services with immediate effect. According to a notification, the fee for an express copy of land record, including fard, intiqal and girdawari, has been fixed at Rs4,000 and standard copy Rs900. The fee for issuing a Green Property Certificate is Rs800. The fee for obtaining a certified copy of land record is Rs5,000 and registered deed Rs1,400. For banks, the fee for land record verification has been fixed at Rs1,000 for each successful transaction and Rs700 for unsuccessful transaction. The government has set the fee for intiqal services at Rs1,200, while property mutations processed through banks will carry a service charge of Rs2,100. Under the e-registration system, the appointment of a local commission will cost Rs6,700. A service charge of Rs3,000 will be applied to each transaction carried out through the Property Transfer System. Transactions processed through the e-registration portal for the sale and purchase of land will be subject to a service charge of 0.1 per cent of the property's value, with a minimum fee of Rs3,600.

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