Diesel Up Another 2.80 Baht per Liter as Subsidy Cut Continues

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has alleged that party leader Aaliya Hamza was attacked by fellow inmates inside Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail. Aaliya Hamza is currently imprisoned at the facility. PTI leaders claimed that she faced a physical assault following a dispute over access to water in a jail toilet. According to the party, one female inmate and several other prisoners were involved in the incident. PTI representatives alleged that the situation became serious when the inmates allegedly tried to strangle Aaliya. They described the incident as an attempt on her life. The allegations have raised concerns within the party about her safety and security while in custody. PTI leaders Sanam Javed and Falak Javed were also present in the jail, according to the party’s account. They allegedly intervened during the incident and helped protect Aaliya from the other inmates. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the party had received disturbing information about the alleged incident. He called on the Punjab government and jail authorities to ensure Aaliya’s safety. Raja also demanded an immediate and transparent investigation into the matter. He said officials found responsible for negligence should face action. He also called for legal proceedings if any jail staff were found to have failed in their duties. Raja said the party would consult Aaliya’s family about further legal steps. He added that a petition could be filed in court seeking a medical examination and additional protection for the jailed leader. However, prison authorities have rejected PTI’s account of a physical assault. Punjab Inspector General Prisons Mian Salik Jalal said there was no physical clash between the prisoners. He said the inmates had only exchanged heated words over fetching water from a toilet. The conflicting accounts have created questions about what exactly happened inside the jail. The PTI has called for a formal inquiry, while prison authorities maintain that no physical confrontation took place. Aaliya was arrested by Punjab police in March. Authorities had alleged that she was evading arrest and organising gatherings involving PTI lawmakers, election candidates and party workers outside Adiala Jail. She was later transferred to Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. Her arrest took place while she was in Lahore visiting family members during Eidul Fitr. She was initially taken to Shadman Police Station before being moved to jail. The PTI has strongly criticised the cases against Aaliya. Party leaders have repeatedly described her arrest and legal proceedings as politically motivated.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has highlighted the key provisions of the landmark Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, stressing that any external armed attack on Pakistan, Saudi Arabia or Türkiye will be considered an attack on all three countries. Dar said the agreement, signed in Makkah Mukarramah on 7 August 2026, reflects the depth of the brotherly relations between the three nations and is the culmination of years of consultations and strategic coordination. Under the accord, an external armed attack against any one of the three countries will be considered an attack against all, consistent with the right of individual and collective self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. The Foreign Minister stressed that the agreement is purely defensive in nature and is not directed against any country. He said the accord is intended to strengthen cooperation in confronting shared peace and security challenges while promoting regional stability and prosperity. Dar also clarified that the Makkah Accord does not replace or abrogate any existing bilateral or multilateral agreements between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, or their agreements with other countries and international organisations. Another significant provision, he said, is that the agreement remains open to other countries in the region willing to uphold its fundamental principles and resolve differences through mutual respect, cooperation and peaceful means. Dar reaffirmed that the agreement is consistent with Pakistan’s foreign policy and said Islamabad would continue working with all brotherly countries towards lasting peace and stability. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflicts and to building a more secure, stable and prosperous future for the peoples of the region.

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.