National

Two people were killed in separate shooting incidents reported within an hour in different areas of Karachi on Thursday, prompting police to launch investigations into both cases. The first incident occurred in the Boat Basin police jurisdiction near Bath Island in Clifton, where a watchman was fatally shot outside a residential bungalow. Rescue officials shifted the victim’s body to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for legal formalities. According to Chhipa rescue officials, the deceased was identified as 40-year-old Mewa, who sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the chest. Initial information suggested that armed suspects opened fire after encountering resistance during an attempted robbery. However, Boat Basin Station House Officer (SHO) Riaz Niazi said the exact motive behind the killing had not yet been established. He confirmed that the victim originally belonged to the Thar region and was employed as a watchman at the bungalow where the incident occurred. The SHO said police were investigating all possible angles, including personal enmity and robbery, before reaching a final conclusion. Authorities are also attempting to obtain CCTV footage from the surrounding area to identify the suspects and reconstruct the sequence of events. In a separate incident, another man was shot dead near Link Road on the National Highway in the Bin Qasim area. The victim was also taken to Jinnah Hospital for medico-legal procedures. Bin Qasim SHO Faisal Rafiq identified the deceased as 40-year-old Bashir, a truck driver originally from Dera Ismail Khan. According to preliminary findings, Bashir was present at a truck terminal when unidentified assailants, who were allegedly lying in wait, opened fire on him. Police said the victim suffered three bullet wounds, including one to the chest. Investigators recovered three spent 30-bore pistol casings from the crime scene, which have been collected as forensic evidence. Officials believe the second shooting may have been motivated by personal enmity, although they emphasised that the investigation remains ongoing and no suspects have been arrested so far. The two fatal incidents highlight the continuing security challenges in Karachi, where police regularly investigate cases involving violent crime, targeted attacks, and robbery-related shootings. Authorities have appealed to the public to cooperate with investigators and provide any information that may assist in identifying those responsible.

Rawalpindi police have registered a kidnapping case after an extensive day-long search failed to locate a six-year-old girl who disappeared near Committee Chowk, prompting authorities to launch a formal criminal investigation while continuing search efforts. The missing child, identified as Hareem Umair, vanished near Landa Bazaar on Thursday morning after her family, who had travelled from Lahore to visit relatives in Rawalpindi, prepared to return home. According to police, her father, Umair Ali, realised she was missing while helping his children into the family vehicle following heavy overnight rainfall. The disappearance triggered a large-scale rescue operation led by Rescue 1122 amid concerns that the child may have been swept away by fast-flowing rainwater in the area’s drainage system. Heavy rainfall had caused stormwater drains and Nullah Leh to overflow, complicating search efforts. Rescue teams divided the search area into four sectors, covering more than four kilometres from the site of the disappearance through Bohar Bazaar Chowk, Colonel Maqbool Chowk, Liaquat Road, Gawalmandi, and extending to Moti Mahal Bridge. Officials searched both open and covered sections of the drainage network. According to Rescue 1122, two specialised water rescue teams, consisting of 12 rescuers and five emergency vehicles, participated in the operation. The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) also assisted in the search. Despite the extensive effort, no trace of the child was found before the operation was temporarily suspended after sunset due to poor visibility. Officials said the search would resume the following morning. Speaking to the media, Hareem’s father said he immediately searched nearby streets and questioned security personnel and relatives after discovering that his daughter was missing. He told police that the street was submerged under approximately one foot of rainwater at the time of the incident, leaving uncertainty over whether the child had been swept away or abducted. Following the unsuccessful search, relatives and local residents staged a protest at Bohar Bazaar Chowk, demanding intensified efforts to recover the missing girl. The demonstration continued for more than an hour before police assured protesters that every available resource would be used to continue both the investigation and the search operation. Waris Khan Police subsequently registered a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 363 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which relates to kidnapping. Authorities say both rescue operations and the criminal investigation remain ongoing as efforts continue to locate the missing child.

The federal government has announced a reduction in petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) prices for August 7, providing limited relief to consumers amid continued fluctuations in international oil markets. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum, petrol prices have been reduced by Rs3.19 per litre, bringing the new price to Rs329.82 per litre. Meanwhile, the price of high-speed diesel has been lowered by Rs1.50 per litre and will now be available at Rs382.36 per litre. The latest adjustment comes just one day after the government increased petrol prices by Rs4.45 per litre while reducing HSD prices by Rs2 per litre for August 6. The frequent revisions reflect the country’s newly introduced fuel pricing mechanism, which allows daily adjustments based on international market movements. The government introduced the daily fuel price review system on July 17 in response to volatility in global oil prices following renewed tensions in the Middle East. Under the new mechanism, domestic fuel prices are calculated using a seven-day average of international petroleum rates in line with global pricing practices. Pakistan remains highly dependent on imported petroleum products, making domestic fuel prices vulnerable to changes in international crude oil markets. According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25, petroleum products represent one of the country’s largest import categories. Any rise in global oil prices increases Pakistan’s import bill, puts pressure on foreign exchange reserves, and contributes to inflation. In previous years, fuel prices were managed through government subsidies and administrative controls. While such measures provided short-term relief for consumers, they also increased financial pressure on the national budget, oil marketing companies, and refineries. Higher subsidies contributed to fiscal challenges and increased public borrowing. Global factors continue to influence oil prices, including decisions by oil-producing nations, conflicts in energy-producing regions, sanctions, and disruptions in major shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. International crude prices recently moved higher after reports that an Iranian parliamentary committee was considering measures affecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures increased by more than $3 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures also recorded gains. Market analysts said traders remain focused on geopolitical developments and negotiations involving major oil-producing countries. Since a significant portion of global energy supplies previously moved through the Strait of Hormuz, any disruption in the route could immediately affect crude prices and fuel costs worldwide. The latest reduction in Pakistan’s fuel prices is expected to offer temporary relief to motorists and businesses, although future adjustments will continue to depend on international oil market trends.