Black Oil-Like Slicks Wash Ashore at Jomtien Beach; Tourists Temporarily Avoid Swimming

By MIR Hunbal Birmani   DG Khan: Heavy rains in the Sulaiman Range have caused flash flooding in several small and large hill torrents in Sakhi Sarwar and adjoining areas, creating difficulties for tourists returning from Mubarki, Yakbai and other tourist destinations, as well as travellers and residents of tribal areas, in crossing the waterways. Taking notice of the situation, Deputy Commissioner and Senior Commandant Dera Ghazi Khan Muhammad Usman Khalid directed an immediate rescue operation under the supervision of Political Assistant Koh-e-Sulaiman Ameer Taimoor. The Border Military Police (BMP) mobilised its personnel and vehicles and reached various routes affected by the hill torrents to rescue stranded tourists, travellers, women, children and residents of tribal areas, along with their belongings, and shift them to safe locations. On the instructions of Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Khalid, BMP personnel also helped private vehicles and motorcycles cross the flooded hill torrents. At some locations, motorcycles and luggage were carried on their shoulders to help people reach safer places. During the rescue operation, the valuable belongings and vehicles of tourists and travellers were also safely moved to secure locations. The BMP team also transported a woman who was on her way to hospital for delivery in an official vehicle. Due to the timely actions of the district administration and the BMP, hundreds of tourists, travellers and local residents were rescued from difficulties caused by the flash floods and shifted to safe places Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Khalid said that, in accordance with the special instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, all necessary arrangements had been completed in view of the monsoon rains. Teams of the district administration, Border Military Police, Baloch Levies and other relevant departments had been deployed at important routes near the hill torrents to ensure an immediate response to any emergency situation. He urged citizens and tourists to avoid going near hill torrents during rainfall and to follow the instructions issued by the administration. “The protection of the lives and property of the people is the top priority of the district administration,” he said. While on other hand , Senior officials on Thursday visited hill torrent structures and flood-prone areas in Rajan pur district to review the situation and preparedness measures. The visit was conducted by commissioner Dera Ghazi Khan ch.Ashfaq , Chief Engineer Irrigation, Dera Ghazi Khan, the Superintending Engineer Irrigation, Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue Rajan pur, Assistant Commissioners of Jam pur and Rajan pur, the In-charge of Rescue 1122, and other relevant officials. The officials inspected the Kaha Hill Torrent siphon at RD-145 and Pull Pathan Camp at Tayyab Drain. According to officials, a peak discharge of 40,000 cusecs was recorded at Darrah, the originating point of the Kaha Hill Torrent, yesterday. However, a major portion of the floodwater dissipated during its passage, and only around 2,000 cusecs had reached RD-145 so far. The Irrigation Department has established eight camps in the area, equipped with the necessary machinery, equipment and manpower to deal with any emergency situation. Teams of the District Administration Rajan pur, Irrigation Department and Rescue 1122 are actively monitoring the situation and remain vigilant.

ISLAMABAD: A high-level investigation committee constituted by the Prime Minister visited the Fire Brigade Headquarters on Thursday as part of its inquiry into the response to a recent fire incident. During the visit, the committee recorded statements from officers and staff of Capital Emergency Services who participated in the rescue operation. Officials provided details about the sequence of events and the measures taken after the fire was reported. Sources said the investigators examined the timeline of the incident, including the period between the outbreak of the fire and the arrival of emergency response teams. The committee also assessed the fire brigade’s response and reviewed the actions taken by personnel during the operation. The investigators sought information about difficulties and operational challenges encountered by the emergency teams while carrying out rescue and firefighting efforts. The committee is headed by retired Federal Secretary Shahid Khan and includes Major General (retd) Dr Khursheed Uttra, Dr Barrister Naeem Ahmed Awan and the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad. According to sources, the committee is scheduled to submit an interim report to the Prime Minister today. A comprehensive investigation report, along with recommendations based on its findings, is expected to be submitted within five days. The inquiry is aimed at determining the sequence of events, assessing the emergency response and identifying areas requiring improvement in the city’s firefighting and rescue arrangements.

Lahore: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, formally inaugurated the 983rd Annual Urs of Hazrat Ali Hajveri (RA), widely revered as Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA), by performing the traditional Chadar Poshi ceremony and inaugurating the ceremonial Sabeel-e-Doodh. On this auspicious occasion, he also unveiled the Punjab Auqaf & Religious Affairs Department’s special publication, “Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA) – Kamalaan Raa Rahnuma,” and reaffirmed that Pakistan was founded upon the eternal principles of Islam and the sovereignty of Almighty Allah, ideals that were magnificently exemplified and disseminated by the great Sufi saints through their scholarship, spirituality, and exemplary character. He observed that the timeless teachings of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA), centred on compassion, tolerance, justice, fraternity, piety and selfless service to humanity, continue to illuminate the path towards peace, national cohesion and social harmony. The ceremony was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Punjab Ali Dar, Provincial Minister for Housing Bilal Yasin, Provincial Minister for Finance Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Senior Member Board of Revenue Nabeel Javed, Secretary Excise Masood Mukhtar, Commissioner Lahore Nauman Yousaf, Secretary/Chief Administrator Auqaf Punjab Dr. Ehsan Bhutta, Director General Religious Affairs Hafiz Anees-ur-Rehman, Director Administration Auqaf Muhammad Shakir Sandhu, Director Projects Auqaf Rafiq Noor Wattoo, Deputy Commissioner Lahore Ali Ijaz, Administrator Data Darbar Muhammad Ali Khan, GM NESPAK Adil Nazir, and senior officers of the Auqaf Department, civil administration, law enforcement and security agencies. The annual Chadar Poshi ceremony was gracefully conducted by Maulana Mufti Kashif Jameel as Naqeeb-e-Mehfil, while the honour of Qur’anic recitation was bestowed upon Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali and Qari Ghulam Fareed Al-Hassani. Renowned Naat Khawans—Qari Muhammad Anas Mukhtar, Dr. Sarwar Hussain Naqshbandi, Hafiz Muhammad Waseem Abbas, Hafiz Noor Sultan Siddiqui, Marghoob Ahmad Hamdani, Abdul Razzaq Jami and Habib-ur-Rehman Bhatti—presented heartfelt tributes in praise of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), while Umar Chishti Group and Riaz Hussain Group presented soul-stirring Manqabat and Salaam. Floral tributes were offered at the sacred shrine, distinguished guests were ceremonially honoured with traditional turbans, and special collective prayers were led by Allama Mukhtar Ahmad Nadeem, Khateeb of Jamia Masjid Data Darbar. Following the ceremony, the Deputy Prime Minister officially launched the commemorative publication and received an extensive briefing from officials of the Communication & Works Department and NESPAK regarding the Data Darbar Expansion Project. Commending the Government of Punjab for its exceptional arrangements, Senator Ishaq Dar described the service of millions of devotees as a profound religious obligation and a matter of immense privilege, while paying rich tribute to the comprehensive security architecture, sanitation, healthcare, traffic management and public facilitation measures, and especially acknowledging the outstanding leadership and unwavering dedication of Dr. Ehsan Bhutta and his entire team. Advisor to the Chief Minister Punjab Ali Dar remarked that the shrine of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA) remains an enduring symbol of spirituality, peace and interfaith harmony across the Subcontinent, adding that under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, every possible resource has been mobilised to ensure a secure, dignified and spiritually enriching experience for pilgrims. Dr. Ehsan Bhutta further stated that, under the continuous supervision of the Chief Secretary Punjab, all Urs arrangements had been completed well in advance and to the highest professional standards, with special emphasis on security, Langar, Sabeel, medical services, cleanliness, parking, traffic management, control rooms and guidance centres. Multi-tier security measures were implemented throughout the shrine complex in close coordination with law enforcement agencies, including comprehensive search operations, deployment of armed personnel on surrounding high-rise buildings and stringent surveillance protocols, while additional personnel from the Tourism Department were also deployed to facilitate visitors. The inaugural day of the Urs witnessed an extraordinary influx of devotees from across Pakistan who thronged the sacred shrine to offer chadars, floral tributes and prayers, as the atmosphere resonated with devotional fervour, traditional drum performances and the continuous distribution of Langar. The first day also featured four prestigious spiritual and scholarly gatherings, including a Mehfil-e-Husn-e-Qira’at, an academic and educational session at Jamia Hajveria, a scholarly discourse titled “The Life and Legacy of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA)”, and a grand Mehfil-e-Naat, while the three-day Urs celebrations will continue with the inauguration of the traditional Mehafil-e-Samaa on 3 August at 10:00 a.m. at Rashid Events Complex, Chowk Sardar, Chappal Factory, Bilal Ganj, Lahore, where some of Pakistan’s most distinguished Qawwals will participate in the revered musical assemblies.

  The ride-hailing driver who transported Wafflix owner Mir Raza Ali shortly before his death has shared details of the young man’s final journey, describing how Ali personally guided him through several roads in Karachi before being dropped outside a bank in Gulistan-e-Johar. Ali, 25, was allegedly abducted from the PECHS area before his body was discovered in bushes near a wedding hall in Gulistan-e-Johar. Police initially suspected that he may have been tortured before being shot. The circumstances surrounding his death remained unclear for some time, including speculation over whether he had been murdered or had died by suicide. However, a second post-mortem reportedly strengthened his family’s claim that Ali had been killed. In a video statement released on Wednesday, the driver, Ehsanullah, recalled accepting Ali’s ride during the early hours of the morning. He said the booking came through at around 3:57am. After accepting it, he reached the pickup location at approximately 4:06am and called Ali a minute later to inform him that he had arrived. According to the driver, Ali asked him to wait for a couple of minutes before coming outside. Ehsanullah said Ali arrived around 4:09am, after which the journey began. The driver said they initially left the street and headed towards Khalid bin Waleed Road. He recalled that when he was about to take a turn, Ali stopped him and instructed him to use another route towards a one-way road leading towards Imtiaz and Tariq Road. During the journey, Ali reportedly asked whether the vehicle had Bluetooth or a speaker. After connecting his mobile phone, he played music while continuing to guide the driver. Ehsanullah said he relied on the navigation system while also following Ali’s instructions. The route reportedly took them from Tariq Road to Bahadurabad and then towards Aga Khan Hospital, Stadium Road, Millennium Wall and Perfume Chowk. They subsequently travelled through Johar Mor, Mosamiyat and Samama before reaching Continental Bakery. The driver said Ali then directed him to take another turn and continue ahead before eventually asking him to stop. Ehsanullah said he dropped Ali outside a bank and then left the area. Meanwhile, Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho acknowledged shortcomings in the investigation into Ali’s death. Speaking at a ceremony at the Sindh Bar Council, he said the case was being reassessed following a new medico-legal report. Odho described Ali’s death as tragic and said a new investigation team had been instructed to conduct a transparent and independent inquiry. He acknowledged that there had been lapses, particularly concerning the medico-legal process, and said the shortcomings would be addressed. Ali’s body was discovered on July 29 with a gunshot wound. Investigators later recovered a .30-bore pistol casing from the crime scene on August 6, although the firearm itself had not been found. Following concerns raised by Ali’s family and evidence suggesting he had been shot from behind, the previous investigation team was dissolved. A new team, headed by DIG Investigation and Crime Amir Farooqi, was formed. The family’s lawyer, Jibran Nasir, had previously called for an impartial investigation and alleged that the family had been pressured to accept a suicide explanation. A judicial magistrate in Karachi’s East district has also directed police to submit a progress report in the case by August 15 as the renewed investigation continues.