5 tourists killed after boat capsizes in Swat's Saifullah Lake

At least five tourists were killed after a boat capsized in Saifullah Lake in the Kalam area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Swat district on Wednesday, police said, while rescue teams continued searching for the remaining missing passengers. Police initially said the boat was carrying seven people, including the boatman. However, officials later said eight members of the same family were on board when the accident occurred. Swat District Police Officer Mohammad Omar Khan said five bodies had been recovered from the Mahodand area and that rescue teams, police, and local volunteers were continuing search efforts for the remaining missing persons. Read: Foreign tourists' boat capsizes due to rough seas According to the police, the boatman was rescued with serious injuries and taken to the hospital for treatment. K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed grief over the incident, describing the boat accident as "deeply tragic and heartbreaking". While extending condolences to the bereaved families and praying for the departed souls, he urged the relevant authorities to make the rescue operation more effective and continue the search without interruption until all the missing persons were located. The governor also called for strict enforcement of safety measures and boating regulations at tourist destinations. K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi took notice of the incident and sought an immediate report from the relevant administration. Also Read: Nine die as rescue boat capsizes in Bahawalnagar He directed that action be taken against those responsible if negligence or lapses were established. The chief minister said the provincial government stood with the affected families during the difficult time. He also directed rescue authorities to continue search and relief operations with full responsibility and urgency to recover a missing girl.

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CTD opens five fronts in Karachi Rangers attack probe

Five cases have been registered by the Sindh Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in connection with the terrorist attack on a Rangers transport company in Karachi's Gulistan-e-Jauhar, in which three Rangers personnel were martyred. Investigators said an arrested terrorist claimed the attackers belonged to the banned Jamaat-ul-Ahrar outfit and revealed details of the alleged planning, facilitators, and commanders behind the assault. The main case was registered on the complaint of an officer posted at the Rangers Transport Company (TC) Workshop. According to the complainant, around 8pm on June 27, a suicide bomber detonated himself at the workshop's main gate, martyring three Rangers personnel stationed there on the spot. Read: Rangers foil attack on Karachi camp, three soldiers martyred The complaint stated that as Rangers personnel moved forward following the blast, three armed terrorists carrying automatic weapons entered the premises, opened indiscriminate fire and hurled hand grenades during the attack. The complainant said he and other Rangers personnel engaged the attackers, while the Rangers Special Force and Quick Response Force (QRF) also reached the scene. According to the first information report, security personnel responded with official submachine guns (SMGs), killing two terrorists, while a third attacker was wounded and captured alive by Rangers personnel. Local police also arrived at the scene shortly afterwards. The arrested terrorist identified himself as Usman alias Ali. An SMG, ammunition, and a hand grenade were recovered from his possession. During interrogation, the suspect identified his deceased accomplices as Umar, Abdul Hadi, and suicide bomber Janan. Investigators recovered an SMG, ammunition, and magazines from Umar's body, while Abdul Hadi was carrying an SMG, a double magazine, and 16 rounds of ammunition. Police also recovered 43 spent SMG shell casings and seized an unexploded hand grenade from the scene. The Bomb Disposal Squad was called in, while the attack caused extensive damage to government property and vehicles. Also Read: Pakistan summons Afghan envoy over terrorist attack on Rangers camp in Karachi The martyred and injured Rangers personnel were taken to the hospital immediately after the attack. The arrested terrorist was later transported to the hospital by ambulance for medical treatment. During interrogation, the suspect told investigators that he was from Jalalabad, Afghanistan. He claimed that Janan and Umar were also Afghan nationals, while Abdul Hadi was a Pakistani citizen from Bajaur who had long been associated with a terrorist organisation in Afghanistan and had arrived in Karachi a week before the attack. According to the investigation, the attackers stayed at a temporary safe house in Korangi with the assistance of local facilitators. They carried out reconnaissance of the Rangers' workshop before launching the assault. The suspect claimed that all four attackers belonged to the banned Jamaat-ul-Ahrar organisation operating from Afghanistan. He alleged that commanders Umar Qari, Maulvi Ahrar, and Abdul Wajid dispatched them to Pakistan to carry out the attack. He further claimed that the commanders instructed the group to inflict maximum casualties on Rangers personnel and disrupt peace and security. The suspect also alleged that Afghanistan-based members of the organisation — Mullah Tahir Afghani, Mullah Abdul Mannan and Umar Afridi — provided training for the attack. The remaining four cases related to the attack were registered based on a complaint by a police officer. Crackdown on 'illegal' Afghan residents intensifies Meanwhile, the crackdown against Afghan nationals residing illegally in Karachi's Malir district intensified, with police arresting five Afghan nationals allegedly living unlawfully in a warehouse and booking the property's owner for providing them with accommodation. Quaidabad police conducted an operation near Khyber Gali, the Plastic Warehouse, and Sher Pao Colony, where they detained six individuals, including five Afghan nationals. Read More: Terrorists must not be called 'militants': Tarar The arrested individuals were identified as Abdul Hadi, Ayaz, Ehsanullah, Yaseen, Mohammad Akbar, and Hassan Nawab. Police said one of those arrested was the owner of the warehouse where the Afghan nationals were allegedly staying. A case has been registered against the five Afghan nationals under Section 14-D of the Foreigners Act. A separate case has also been registered against the warehouse owner under Section 11 of the Sindh Temporary Residence Act for allegedly providing accommodation to undocumented foreign nationals.

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