National

MUZAFFARABAD: Dr Muhammad Mushtaq Khan has been re-elected as the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), securing a second consecutive term as the head of the party, according to an official announcement made by the party’s spokesperson. The spokesperson said Dr Mushtaq Khan will lead Jamaat-e-Islami AJK for the 2026–2029 term. His re-election reflects the party’s continued confidence in his leadership and organisational abilities. The party also confirmed that the Secretary of the Election Committee formally declared Dr Mushtaq Khan the successful candidate after the completion of the internal election process. With his re-election, Dr Mushtaq Khan will remain responsible for overseeing the party’s political strategy, organisational affairs and public outreach activities across Azad Jammu and Kashmir during the next three years. Party officials said the election process was conducted in accordance with the organisation’s constitutional procedures. They added that the formal announcement marked the completion of the party’s internal electoral process for the position of Ameer. Dr Mushtaq Khan has been associated with Jamaat-e-Islami for many years and has remained actively involved in political, religious and social activities in Azad Kashmir. During his previous term, he represented the party on various political and public issues while overseeing its organisational structure throughout the region. His second consecutive term is expected to ensure continuity in the party’s policies and organisational framework. Party leaders expressed confidence that his experience and leadership would help strengthen Jamaat-e-Islami’s role in Azad Kashmir’s political landscape.

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.

A religious scholar affiliated with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) was shot dead by unidentified attackers in the Azam Warsak area of Birmal tehsil in Lower South Waziristan, police said on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Maulana Muhammad Ismail. According to police, the attack took place shortly after Friday prayers when unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire on the cleric. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene before he could receive medical assistance. The attackers fled immediately after carrying out the shooting. Police launched a search operation in the area, but no arrests have been made so far. District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Tahir confirmed the incident and said an initial case has been registered. He added that investigators are examining all possible motives behind the attack and collecting evidence to identify those responsible. According to local officials and tribal elders, Maulana Muhammad Ismail was a resident of Kazha Panga and served as a teacher at a religious seminary in the area. He was known for his religious services and educational work in the community. Following the incident, law enforcement personnel reached the crime scene and shifted the body for legal formalities. Security was also tightened in nearby areas as authorities began efforts to trace the attackers. Police said no group has claimed responsibility for the killing. Investigators are questioning witnesses and reviewing available information to determine whether the attack was linked to personal enmity, militancy or any other motive. The killing has once again highlighted security concerns in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where religious and political figures have occasionally been targeted in violent attacks. Earlier this year, former JUI-F provincial lawmaker Maulana Muhammad Idrees was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Charsadda. In a separate incident in January, JUI-F leader Maulana Sultan Muhammad Wazir succumbed to injuries after being critically wounded in a bomb blast near a religious seminary in Wana Bazaar, South Waziristan.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that the widow of a deceased retired employee is the lawful recipient of the employee’s pension and post-retirement benefits, clarifying that siblings cannot claim such benefits solely on the basis of being legal heirs. The ruling was issued in a detailed four-page written judgment authored by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi. The decision provides important legal clarification on the distribution of pension and retirement benefits after the death of a retired government employee. According to the judgment, pension is not treated as inherited property that can automatically be divided among all legal heirs. Instead, the court held that pension payments are governed by the relevant laws, service rules and institutional regulations. The Supreme Court stated that the widow of a deceased retired employee has the primary legal right to receive the pension and related benefits. It further observed that if a person has been legally nominated under the applicable rules, that nominee would also be entitled to receive the benefits. The court made it clear that brothers and sisters cannot claim a deceased employee’s pension merely because they are legal heirs under inheritance laws. It explained that pension rights arise from specific statutory provisions and are separate from the general rules governing inheritance. The judgment emphasised that all pension payments must be made strictly in accordance with the applicable laws and the regulations of the concerned institution. Authorities responsible for disbursing pensions must follow these legal provisions while determining the rightful beneficiary. The case reached the Supreme Court after the siblings of a deceased employee of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) challenged an earlier court ruling and sought a succession certificate to claim pension-related benefits. After reviewing the case, the apex court dismissed the appeal and upheld the decision of the Peshawar High Court, which had ruled that the siblings were not entitled to receive the deceased employee’s pension. The Supreme Court observed that pension is a statutory benefit and cannot be distributed under ordinary inheritance principles unless specifically permitted by the relevant legal framework.

QUETTA: The search and rescue operation at the site of the deadly coal mine explosion near Quetta concluded on Saturday after rescuers recovered the bodies of the last two trapped miners. With the latest recovery, the death toll from the tragedy has reached 34. The explosion took place on Thursday at a privately operated coal mine in the Sorange coalfield, located around 30 kilometres northeast of Quetta. Officials said a buildup of methane gas triggered a powerful explosion, causing a fire inside the mine and leading to its collapse. The blast also affected another nearby mine. Balochistan Chief Inspector of Mines Muhammad Atif confirmed that all 34 miners trapped underground had now been recovered. He said rescue teams worked continuously under difficult conditions to retrieve the remaining two bodies after recovering 32 victims on Friday. Following the completion of the rescue mission, authorities sealed both mines and launched a formal investigation into the incident. A team of mining experts has been formed to determine the exact cause of the explosion and examine whether all required safety measures had been followed. Officials said all the deceased miners belonged to Shangla district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Their bodies have been transported to their hometowns, where funeral prayers and burials will be held. Authorities said 23 of the victims were residents of Pirabad, a village that has repeatedly suffered losses in coal mining accidents. Local representatives said most of the miners were young men between the ages of 17 and 25. Community leaders said many of the victims belonged to the same families and were close relatives. Some of the deceased had already lost their fathers in previous mining accidents, reflecting the continued dangers faced by families dependent on coal mining for their livelihood. According to officials, 24 miners were working nearly 4,000 feet underground in the mine where the methane gas explosion occurred. The remaining workers were trapped in another nearby mine that was also affected by the blast. The tragedy has once again highlighted concerns over working conditions and safety standards in Pakistan’s coal mining sector. Labour organisations have repeatedly called for stronger enforcement of mining regulations, improved ventilation systems and better emergency preparedness to reduce the risk of fatal accidents. Coal mining remains one of the country’s most dangerous occupations. Workers face constant threats from gas explosions, mine collapses, toxic fumes, suffocation and long-term respiratory diseases caused by prolonged exposure to coal dust.