Sindh Chief Minister reviews Karachi water reform …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is bracing for another spell of flood-related risks as heavy monsoon rains, rising river levels and high water storage at major dams put several parts of the country on alert. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), through its National Emergencies Operation Centre, has warned of possible low to moderate flooding in vulnerable areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Balochistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. According to the latest assessment, the Indus River has already reached low flood levels at Kalabagh, Chashma, Taunsa and Guddu. While the Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum, Kabul and Sutlej are currently within normal ranges, officials expect water flows in several major rivers to increase on August 8 and 9. The NDMA has identified Sukkur on the Indus, Marala on the Chenab and Balloki on the Ravi as areas where low-level flooding could occur. The Jhelum downstream of Mangla Dam and the Kabul River near Adezai are also being closely monitored. Several districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral, Upper Dir, Abbottabad, Shangla, Khyber, Orakzai, Kohat, Tank and North and South Waziristan, face the possibility of low to moderate flooding. In AJK, Bagh and Kotli are also considered vulnerable, while Zhob, Musakhel, Kohlu, Barkhan and Dera Bugti in Balochistan remain under watch. Punjab is facing risks from hill torrents, particularly in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur. The NDMA has also warned of possible urban flooding in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Okara and Lahore. Water storage at the country’s major reservoirs remains high. Tarbela Dam’s water level has reached 1,548 feet, with storage at 97.94 per cent, compared with 95.98 per cent during the same period last year. Mangla Dam is at 1,205.2 feet, with storage recorded at 62.99 per cent, slightly above last year’s 62.80 per cent. Authorities have urged residents, tourists and travellers in mountainous and flood-prone areas to remain vigilant, as intense monsoon rainfall can trigger flash floods, landslides and debris flows with little warning. People have been advised to avoid riverbanks, streams and other vulnerable locations and to check weather forecasts and road conditions before travelling as the monsoon system continues to affect the country.

    LAHORE – In a significant development in the high-profile murder case of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Abdullah Tahir, the police investigation has uncovered shocking details involving a sophisticated honey-trap operation and the use of drone cameras for surveillance. Abdullah Tahir, a prominent political figure, was gunned down in the upscale Gulberg area of Lahore just a few days ago, sending shockwaves through the political landscape and prompting widespread calls for a swift and transparent investigation. According to official police sources and investigative reports, the murder was not a random act of violence but a meticulously planned assassination that leveraged technology and human manipulation to track the victim’s movements. The breakthrough in the case came when investigators zeroed in on the victim’s personal driver, who has become a pivotal figure in the unfolding narrative. Police interrogation and digital forensics have revealed that the driver was systematically honey-trapped by a female accomplice working in tandem with the primary suspects. The investigation has established that the female suspect initiated contact with Abdullah Tahir’s driver through a popular social media application. Over a period of several days, she allegedly cultivated a rapport with the driver, gaining his trust and extracting crucial information about his employer’s daily routines, security arrangements, and travel schedules. The use of social media as a tool for reconnaissance highlights the increasing sophistication of criminal networks in Pakistan, which are now exploiting digital platforms to orchestrate targeted killings. The most damning evidence, however, emerged from the timeline of the day of the murder. Police sources confirm that on the fateful day, after the driver had accompanied Abdullah Tahir to his clinic, a video call was placed between the driver and the female suspect. During this call, the suspects are believed to have instructed the driver to confirm the victim’s presence at the clinic in real-time. The video call effectively served as a live verification mechanism, allowing the hitmen to ensure that their target was indeed on the premises before they moved in to execute the attack. This revelation underscores the calculated and cold-blooded nature of the conspiracy. Furthermore, the investigative team has uncovered evidence that the suspects deployed a drone camera to conduct aerial surveillance of the clinic and its surroundings prior to the assassination. The drone was reportedly used to map out the location, identify potential escape routes, and monitor the movement of security personnel or any other individuals who could interfere with the operation. The use of drone technology in this case represents a disturbing new trend in criminal activity, indicating that the perpetrators had access to advanced equipment and technical expertise, possibly hinting at a larger network behind the killing. The recovery of digital data from the driver’s mobile phone, including chat logs, call records, and multimedia files, has been instrumental in piecing together the conspiracy. The police have also detained the female suspect for interrogation, and efforts are underway to trace the other accomplices who participated in the planning and execution of the murder. Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspects operated with a high degree of coordination, using encrypted communication methods to avoid detection.   Abdullah Tahir’s murder has already become a politically charged issue, with his party, the PTI, demanding a high-level judicial inquiry and condemning what they describe as a failure of state institutions to protect their leaders. The party has also alleged that the killing may be linked to political vendettas, though the police have so far refrained from assigning a political motive to the crime, stating that all angles are being explored. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on capturing the masterminds and executing the attack. The police have assured the public and the political leadership that no effort will be spared in bringing the culprits to justice. The use of honey-trapping and drone surveillance in this case has not only complicated the investigation but has also raised serious questions about the safety of public figures in an era of rapidly evolving technological threats. The authorities are now reviewing security protocols for VIPs and considering stricter regulations on the use of drones and surveillance equipment to prevent similar incidents in the future.