Bay of Bengal system weakens, rain expected in Sindh

KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain accompanied by thunderstorms in Karachi from Saturday afternoon or evening until August 3 as a weather system continues to influence parts of Sindh. According to meteorologists, the intense low-pressure system that had developed over southern Madhya Pradesh has weakened further. It is now located near Rajasthan as a well-marked low-pressure area and is expected to weaken further over the next 24 hours. Despite weakening, the system continues to draw monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal into the upper and central parts of Pakistan. At the same time, a westerly weather system is also affecting the country’s northern regions, creating favourable conditions for rainfall in several areas. The Met Office said Karachi is likely to receive rain with thunderstorms from Saturday afternoon or evening through August 3 under the influence of the weather system. Weather experts also forecast intermittent rain accompanied by dust storms and thunderstorms in Tharparkar, Umerkot and Mithi until August 3. Similar weather conditions are expected in Sanghar, Hyderabad and surrounding districts during the same period. The PMD warned that heavy rainfall could lead to urban flooding in low-lying areas of Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad, Badin, Sanghar, Khairpur, Matiari, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Tando Muhammad Khan and Tando Allahyar. The department also cautioned that heavy rain, strong winds and lightning could damage weak structures. Farmers have been advised to plan their agricultural activities according to the changing weather conditions to avoid potential losses. For Karachi, the Met Office said the sky is expected to remain mostly cloudy during the next 24 hours. The maximum temperature is likely to reach around 36 degrees Celsius. During the past 24 hours, the minimum temperature recorded in the city was 29.5 degrees Celsius.

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission has revised the schedule for the third phase of the Legislative Assembly elections. Polling in Poonch and Sudhanoti districts has been postponed. The election commission has now decided to hold the third phase in Bagh and Haveli districts. Under the earlier schedule, polling was planned for August 10. Voting was expected to take place across 11 seats in four districts of the Poonch division. The election authorities have now changed the plan. The new schedule will cover constituencies in Bagh and Haveli. The first two phases of the AJK elections have already been completed. The first phase was held on July 27 in the Mirpur Division. The second phase took place on August 2 in the Muzaffarabad Division. The elections are being closely watched because of the political contest between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party. The PML-N has emerged as the leading party in the first two phases. Its leaders have claimed that the party has secured enough support to form the next AJK government. In the second phase, voting was held in 21 constituencies. Nine seats were located in the Muzaffarabad Division. Twelve seats were reserved for Kashmiri refugees settled in different parts of Pakistan. According to unofficial and provisional results, the PML-N won 15 of the 21 seats. The PPP secured the remaining six seats. The PML-N had also performed strongly during the first phase. Unofficial results showed the party winning nine constituencies. The PPP won four seats. The election process has also been accompanied by allegations of irregularities and violence. The PPP has questioned the fairness of the elections and accused the authorities of failing to ensure a transparent process. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has strongly criticised the election process. He described the polls as unfair and alleged that violence and irregularities affected the voting. Bilawal also said the PPP would continue its political struggle despite the party’s performance in the elections. He claimed that the federal government would face political challenges in the future. The PML-N has rejected the allegations. PML-N leader and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah challenged the PPP to present evidence of electoral irregularities before the election commission. He said accusations should be supported by evidence. He also accused the PPP of promoting allegations of rigging from the beginning of the election process. The revised schedule has now shifted attention towards Bagh and Haveli. The election authorities are expected to provide further details about polling arrangements and the dates for voting in the postponed constituencies.

The exhumation of Mir Ali Raza’s body has been postponed for Friday, his father’s lawyer Jibran Nasir said. Nasir spoke to the media and raised serious concerns over the medical board formed for the case. He said a third notification regarding the medical board had been issued. According to Nasir, the first and second medical boards were merged to form a new third board. However, he said the family does not accept the latest notification. He said Mir Raza’s parents had already recorded their statements before the investigating officer. Nasir said the family would not allow the exhumation to take place under the supervision of what he called a disputed medical board. He described the exhumation as a sensitive legal process. He said the court had directed the police surgeon and police to take necessary action. A medical team was formed after the court’s directions. However, Nasir alleged that the medical board was changed overnight. He said the sudden change had raised serious questions for the family. He questioned why doctors from Karachi were not included in the new board. He also questioned the removal of doctors who had been part of the earlier medical board. Nasir asked why a new board was formed without first withdrawing the previous notification. He also questioned why the new notification was issued during the night. He questioned the role of the Director General Health in Hyderabad. He asked under which law the official became the supervising officer of the medical board. Nasir also questioned how the orders of the Karachi police surgeon were superseded. He asked which order of the health secretary was referred to in the letter issued from Hyderabad. He said the family would not accept any alternative arrangement. They would only recognize the previously constituted eight-member medical board. Nasir also raised questions about the investigation into Mir Raza’s death. He said the investigating officer could not recover a bullet casing for eight days. According to him, the casing was recovered only after the family approached the court. He questioned how important the casing could be without the recovery of the pistol allegedly used in the incident. Nasir also alleged that the investigating officer had not properly inspected Mir Raza’s room. He said the family had lost a young member and wanted the case to be investigated with complete seriousness. He stressed that an exhumation was not an ordinary procedure. Meanwhile, preparations for the exhumation had been completed at the PECHS cemetery in Karachi. A police team had also reached the cemetery.

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has issued an important warning to doctors whose professional licences have expired. The council has decided to take action against doctors who fail to renew their licences within the required period. Under the new decision, doctors will be given six months to complete the renewal process. Licences that are not renewed within this period may be cancelled. The PMDC has also stressed that doctors involved in clinical practice must have a valid and active licence. Doctors with expired or inactive licences could face restrictions on their professional practice. The council has advised such doctors to complete the renewal process without delay. The move is aimed at ensuring that only properly registered and authorised doctors continue to provide medical services. The PMDC maintains the registration and licensing system for medical and dental practitioners in Pakistan. Keeping licences active is an important requirement for doctors who are practising professionally. The latest warning is expected to push doctors with expired licences to complete their renewals within the specified six-month period. Doctors have been advised to remain compliant with the council’s licensing requirements to avoid possible cancellation of their licences and disruption to their clinical practice.