Focus on navigation glitch in cargo plane crash

Investigators probing the K2 Airways cargo aircraft crash are examining the possibility of a malfunction in the aircraft's Inertial Reference System (IRS) as well as spatial disorientation as potential causes of the accident, while the aircraft's black box, engines, fuselage and crew have yet to be recovered. According to sources, preliminary investigations are focusing on a possible technical fault in the aircraft's Inertial Reference System (IRS), along with the possibility that the pilots may have experienced spatial disorientation before the crash. Sources said the IRS is a critical navigation system that provides pilots with information about the aircraft's position, direction of travel, flight attitude and speed. The system is capable of operating independently without relying on external navigation signals. Investigators are also examining the possibility of spatial disorientation, a highly dangerous aviation condition in which a pilot loses accurate awareness of the aircraft's actual position, direction or movement and perceives a false sense of orientation. According to sources, a fault in the aircraft's navigation system had emerged as an area of focus during the preliminary inquiry. They added that shortly before the crash, the flight crew had requested heading guidance from air traffic control. Meanwhile, on the fifth day of the salvage and rescue operation on Saturday, recovery teams were still unable to locate the aircraft's black box. Sources said the aircraft's engines and flight data recorder are critical pieces of evidence for determining the cause of the accident. Investigators believe that once the black box is recovered and its data decoded, a clearer picture of the events leading up to the crash is expected to emerge.

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Gwadar Port completes first international bunkering operation

Gwadar Port has completed its first international bunkering operation, marking a significant development for Pakistan's maritime sector, sources said on Saturday. According to sources, the operation was carried out by the National Logistics Corporation (NLC) in collaboration with global energy trader Vitol and involved supplying 2,500 metric tonnes of International Maritime Organization (IMO)-compliant Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) to the UAE-owned LNG vessel ENUGU. Sources said the marine fuel supplied during the operation was produced locally by Cnergyico PK Limited at its refinery, highlighting Pakistan's capacity to produce fuel that meets international marine standards. Read: Gwadar: a key for rapid development They said the successful bunkering operation was viewed within the industry as an important step towards developing a domestic bunkering and marine fuel supply ecosystem. It further added that the operation also strengthens Gwadar Port's position as a potential alternative bunkering hub for international sea-going vessels. The sources said that, as geopolitical tensions continue to affect traditional shipping routes and refuelling hubs in the region, Gwadar could emerge as a secure, efficient and reliable option for international maritime traffic. They added that the development could unlock new economic opportunities for Pakistan's maritime sector and contribute to the growth of the country's blue economy.

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Chair in hand, woman stands up to mob in Karachi

CCTV and mobile phone videos have emerged showing a woman being harassed by a large crowd outside a music academy in Nazimabad No 3, prompting police to register a criminal case and launch an investigation into the incident. The videos, which surfaced days after the July 9 incident, show the woman attempting to protect herself from an aggressive mob by holding a chair in front of her as dozens of people surround and confront her near a chai dhaba. According to police, the woman, identified as Ishrat Malik, was stopped and harassed while returning home after attending classes at the music academy. Read: Karachi sees massive spike in street crime The incident allegedly began when residents stormed the academy, accusing it of hosting "immoral activities." The allegations have not been independently verified. An FIR has been registered on the complaint of Shakir Ali, who runs the academy. In his complaint, Ali said he operates an arts academy where students receive training in singing and qawwali. He alleged that on July 9, a man identified as Azmat Shah, whom he claimed appeared to be under the influence of intoxicants, arrived at the academy with two companions and attempted to force his way inside. According to the FIR, Ali refused them entry because of their condition, after which the suspects allegedly entered the premises by force. He claimed one of the men produced a firearm, while around 10 more individuals later joined them, vandalising the academy, assaulting staff and issuing threats that the institution would not be allowed to operate. The complainant further alleged that the attackers physically assaulted him, causing injuries, and also harassed his wife, Huma, by pulling at her clothes. He accused the group of similarly harassing female students and outraging their modesty. The FIR states that one female student, later identified as Ishrat Malik, fled the academy in panic. According to the complaint, the main suspect allegedly gathered more people from the neighbourhood, after which a crowd of nearly 200 individuals chased the woman through the streets, allegedly attempting to assault and harass her before she managed to take refuge in a nearby apartment building. Police were called to the scene via the emergency helpline. The Nazimabad SHO said the academy conducts classes in qawwali and singing and that no prior complaints had been lodged with the police regarding its activities before the incident. He confirmed that police have registered a case over the harassment of the woman and the attack on the academy. No arrests have yet been announced.

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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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