Pakistan’s Umair Arif wins Hong Kong Junior Squash Open U17 title

Pakistan is expected to receive another widespread spell of monsoon rains from July 29 to August 5, with the weather system likely to affect several parts of the country. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of heavy and very heavy rainfall in several areas. It has also cautioned about urban flooding, flash floods and landslides. According to the weather advisory, moist monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are expected to enter the upper and central parts of the country from July 29. A westerly weather system affecting northern areas is also likely to strengthen from August 1. It may bring widespread rain and thunderstorms to upper and central regions. Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree and the Galliyat are expected to receive rain and thunderstorms from July 29 to August 4. Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot and nearby areas may also experience heavy rainfall. Several districts of central and southern Punjab are also likely to receive rain. These include Lahore, Narowal, Kasur, Okara, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Jhang, Sargodha and Sahiwal. Southern Punjab may see rainfall between July 31 and August 3. Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan, Vehari, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur are among the areas expected to be affected. Sindh is likely to receive rain from July 31 to August 2. Karachi, Hyderabad, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Sanghar and several other districts may experience thunderstorms and moderate to heavy rainfall. Other parts of Sindh, including Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Thatta, are also expected to receive rain. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is likely to face widespread rain and thunderstorms from July 29 to August 5. Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and several other districts may receive heavy or very heavy rain. Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai and Waziristan are also expected to experience rainfall during the forecast period. Balochistan is likely to receive rain and thunderstorms from July 31 to August 3. Zhob, Loralai, Kohlu, Sibi, Kalat, Khuzdar, Lasbela, Awaran, Turbat, Panjgur, Gwadar and several surrounding areas may be affected. Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are also expected to receive rain and thunderstorms. Kashmir may experience rainfall from the night of July 28 to August 5, while parts of Gilgit-Baltistan may remain affected until August 6. The PMD has issued a specific warning about urban flooding. Low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Nowshera, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad could face flooding between July 30 and August 4. Several cities and districts in Sindh may also face urban flooding from July 31 to August 2. These include Hyderabad, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar, Khairpur, Mithi, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot. The weather department has also warned of landslides in vulnerable mountainous areas. Upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir could be affected. Heavy rainfall may also cause flash floods in streams and nullahs. Hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and parts of northeastern Balochistan could also experience sudden flooding. Strong winds and lightning may damage weak structures during the spell. Solar panels, electricity poles, billboards and other vulnerable installations could be affected. The PMD has advised tourists and travellers to exercise caution during the rainy period. People travelling through mountainous areas have been urged to remain alert. Farmers have also been advised to plan agricultural activities according to weather conditions. They have been asked to take precautionary measures to protect crops and livestock.

Police personnel in Bannu staged a protest on Tuesday against the transfer of seven Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police officials to other districts, with the dispute disrupting policing and traffic management in parts of the district. The protest was organised after the Police Peace Committee called on affected personnel to gather at the police lines and suspend their duties. Similar calls were reportedly made by peace committees in Lakki Marwat and Tank. The protesters are demanding that the transfer orders be reviewed or withdrawn. They have warned that the protest could be expanded if their demands are not addressed. Head of the Bannu Peace Committee Hazratullah said the boycott would continue until the transfer orders were cancelled. He said members of the peace committees had worked alongside police to maintain security and restore peace in Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Tank. The boycott reportedly affected security arrangements at several important government and sensitive locations. The absence of traffic personnel also caused congestion at various points in Bannu and Lakki Marwat, leaving commuters facing delays. The transfer orders were issued by the Peshawar Central Police Office on the directions of the Additional Inspector General. Seven personnel were moved to different districts and units. Under the orders, Head Constable Nisar Ali was transferred from Police Lines Lower Dir to PTS Swat. Constable Ghulam Abbas Khan was moved from Elite Force Peshawar to Haripur, while Constable Muhammad Arif was transferred from Elite Force Peshawar to Dera Ismail Khan. Constable Shafiullah was transferred from Investigation Bannu to Swat. Constable Muhammad Atif Khan was moved from Elite Force Bannu to Upper Chitral. Meanwhile, Constable Samiullah was transferred from Lakki Marwat to the Counter Terrorism Department in Peshawar, while Constable Khalid Rahman was moved from District Traffic Mobile Lakki Marwat to Shangla. Police personnel have argued that sudden transfers to distant districts could create difficulties for the affected officials and their families. They have called for the orders to be reconsidered. Authorities have so far not issued a detailed official response to the reported boycott or confirmed whether disciplinary action will be taken against personnel who stopped performing their duties. IGP transfer also under review The protest comes amid uncertainty over the appointment of a new K-P inspector general of police. The proposed transfer of IGP Zulfikar Hameed was put on hold a day earlier as the federal government sought further consultations over the candidates proposed for the post. Provincial government sources said the list of three senior police officers submitted for consideration could be revised. One name may be removed, while another officer could potentially be added before the appointment process resumes. A senior police official said the transfer of the current IGP was not being actively pursued for the moment because of the worsening security situation in the southern districts. The official said the provincial police chief was therefore likely to remain in his position temporarily while consultations between the federal and provincial governments continued.