Foreign Man Goes Berserk and goes on Knife Rampage in Bangkok Soi, Stabs Police Officer Before Being Shot

Broadband internet services have been restored in Muzaffarabad after a 53-day suspension, bringing relief to residents, businesses, journalists and students who had struggled with limited digital connectivity since early June. The restoration took effect late Wednesday night, allowing broadband users to regain access to online services. However, mobile internet connectivity remained unstable in several areas, with users continuing to report intermittent disruptions. The prolonged shutdown had significantly affected communication, online banking, digital businesses, educational activities and media coverage, particularly during the ongoing election season in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Journalists and political workers had repeatedly raised concerns over the lack of internet access, saying it hindered the flow of information and election-related reporting. The restoration comes just days before the second phase of the AJK Legislative Assembly elections, scheduled for August 2, when more than 1.24 million voters are expected to cast their ballots in 21 constituencies. The polls will include nine constituencies in Muzaffarabad Division and 12 seats reserved for Jammu and Kashmir refugees residing in Pakistan. Election authorities have completed polling arrangements and announced enhanced security measures to ensure peaceful, transparent and orderly elections. A total of 351 candidates are contesting the second phase, with several high-profile political leaders participating in closely watched races. Political campaigning has intensified across Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley and Jhelum Valley as major parties make their final push to secure voter support before polling day.

Families of crew members killed in a cargo aircraft crash in the Arabian Sea have called for an immediate search for the aircraft’s wreckage and black box in the deep sea. The families also complained that authorities and the company involved have not provided adequate assistance in obtaining death certificates and completing other legal formalities for their deceased relatives. They urged the government to intervene and help resolve these issues. Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, the victims’ families said more than 40 days had passed since the crash, but they had seen little progress in efforts to locate the missing parts of the aircraft. They said the prolonged lack of information had increased their distress and created the impression that the victims had been forgotten. The families called for the search operation to be resumed as soon as possible, particularly for the aircraft’s black box, cockpit and other major wreckage believed to be lying on the seabed. The aircraft, a Boeing 737 operated by private cargo company K2 Airways, crashed into deep waters off the Balochistan coast on July 7 while travelling from Sharjah to Karachi. Some wreckage was recovered from the crash area, but the aircraft’s black box, cockpit and the remains of the crew members have not yet been located. The families demanded that the authorities seek assistance from international companies and foreign experts specialising in deep-sea recovery operations. They also called for greater cooperation from the company’s owners and relevant government institutions, saying families should not be left to deal with legal and administrative difficulties on their own. The victims’ relatives said they wanted a transparent investigation into the crash and a serious effort to recover the remaining wreckage and flight data recorder.

BAGH: Voting is underway at 23 polling stations in two constituencies of Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Bagh district as authorities conduct re-polling following the suspension of results from the earlier phase. Polling began at 8am and is scheduled to continue until 5pm. Security arrangements have been strengthened around the polling stations to ensure voters can cast their ballots without fear or disruption. The re-polling covers parts of LA-15 Bagh Central and LA-16 Eastern Bagh. Voting had earlier failed to take place at nine polling stations in LA-15 and 14 stations in LA-16. The AJK Election Commission subsequently withheld the results of both constituencies and ordered voting at the affected stations. In LA-15, Pakistan Peoples Party candidate Sardar Ziaul Qamar had secured 16,637 votes in the polling that took place earlier. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidate Mushtaq Ahmed Minhas was second with 15,015 votes, while Jamaat-i-Islami candidate retired Brigadier Dr Muhammad Khan received 12,259 votes. In LA-16, PML-N’s Sardar Mir Akbar was leading on the basis of votes already counted. He had obtained 19,515 votes and held a lead of 3,225 votes over PPP candidate Sardar Qamaruz Zaman. The contest in both constituencies has remained tense. Candidates have levelled allegations of large-scale rigging against their political opponents. AJK Chief Election Commissioner retired Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal said adequate security had been deployed at the polling stations. He said sufficient police and other law-enforcement personnel were available to provide voters with a secure environment. The re-polling is part of the third phase of the AJK elections, which has been conducted amid concerns over law and order in parts of the region. The third phase was initially scheduled across Poonch Division, covering 11 constituencies in Bagh, Haveli, Poonch and Sudhnoti districts. However, the Election Commission limited polling to Bagh and Haveli because of security concerns. Polling was held earlier in both districts, but the commission withheld the results of two Bagh constituencies after voting could not be conducted at the 23 affected stations. The commission had already announced the result of LA-14 Bagh-I, commonly known as Dhirkot. Jammu Kashmir Awami Dast-o-Bazu Party candidate Sajid Iqbal Abbasi won the seat by securing 40,522 votes. Another closely watched contest was LA-17 Haveli, where AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore was a candidate. The constituency became embroiled in controversy after the returning officer declared Rathore the winner. PML-N candidate Engineer Mohsin Aziz challenged the result and claimed that an assurance had been given that the result would not be announced before his complaint was considered. The AJK chief election commissioner heard arguments from both sides and later reserved his decision.