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NDMA raises red flag over powerful storm system expected across multiple regions

The National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Sunday issued a nationwide weather alert, warning that several parts of Pakistan were likely to experience heavy rain, windstorms, thunderstorms and hailstorms during the next 12 to 24 hours due to prevailing weather conditions already predicted in its seasonal outlook. According to the NDMA’s Media Wing, the current weather pattern was fully consistent with the NEOC’s earlier climate assessment issued three to four months ago for the April-to-June period. The authority said Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir were expected to receive widespread rainfall accompanied by strong winds and hail at isolated locations. The alert stated that heavy rain and thunderstorms were expected in Islamabad, Murree, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Talagang, Gujar Khan, Jhelum, Sialkot, Narowal, Layyah, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin,...
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PTI demands SC-led judicial commission on May 9 events

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Friday demanded the formation of an immediate judicial commission comprising senior judges of the Supreme Court to conduct a “transparent, impartial and credible” probe into the events of May 9, while also calling for the release of party founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. May 9 riots erupted nationwide following the arrest of Imran Khan, after which Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) leaders and workers staged protests targeting both civil and military installations, including Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The military condemned the events as a "Black Day" and decided to try the protesters under the Army Act. Read: ATC sentences 47 PTI leaders to 10 years in May 9 GHQ attack case In a post on X, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram described May 9 as “a black day in Pakistan’s political history”, saying the arrest of Imran Khan from the premises of the...
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Fact Check: Hantavirus infection is not a confirmed side effect of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine

Hantavirus pulmonary infection is a disease caused by some hantaviruses, not the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, contrary to widely shared online posts that misrepresented a document listing medical events after inoculation. “List of Pfizer Covid jab side effects ​includes Hantavirus pulmonary infection!” said a widely shared May 7 post on Facebook, which shared a screenshot of ‌submissions Pfizer filed to the US Food and Drug Administration in 2021 to get a biological license for its vaccine. The narrative was also shared on X, with one post suggesting the COVID vaccine contained a hantavirus. Read: Experts race to write guidance to contain first ship-borne hantavirus outbreak The reference to hantavirus pulmonary infection in the Pfizer document is on the fourth page of the nine-page appendix, titled “List of Adverse Events of Special Interest”. However, this is not confirmation that the vaccine ​causes hantavirus pulmonary infec...
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Civil, military leadership assert full-spectrum response to any aggression on Marka-e-Haq's 1st anniversary

Pakistan’s civil and military leadership on Saturday renewed their pledge to defend the country, warning that any aggression aimed at undermining it would be met with an “immediate, befitting and full-spectrum response” as the nation marked the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq. The term “Marka-e-Haq” refers to the 2025 conflict with India, which began with the April 22 Pahalgam attack and concluded with a ceasefire on May 10 following Operation Bunyanum Marsoos. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the prime minister paid tribute to the martyrs and their families, saying they stood like a steel wall in defence of the homeland. “Marka-e-Haq is a day to bow in gratitude before Allah Almighty for His countless blessings upon us. Today, we commemorate Pakistan’s valiant stand in adversity and the crushing defeat we inflicted on the enemy,” he said. Praising the armed forces, he said their well-coordina...
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Balochistan Assembly approves congratulatory resolution on Marka-e-Haq's first anniversary

The Balochistan Assembly on Friday unanimously approved a congratulatory resolution commemorating the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq, with lawmakers paying tribute to Pakistan’s armed forces for their role in defending the country and countering external threats. The resolution, moved by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, received support from both treasury and opposition members during the assembly session. Legislators described the armed forces as a symbol of national strength and praised their sacrifices for ensuring the security and sovereignty of Pakistan. Addressing the house, CM Bugti said the country’s armed forces had demonstrated professionalism and determination in responding to Indian hostility and terrorism. He stated that Pakistan had delivered a clear message that any attempt to undermine the country’s peace and stability would be met with a strong response. He said the nation remained proud of the courage and dedication shown by soldiers a...
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SHC orders govt to restore University Road in 2 months, rules sealing of BRT machinery illegal

After years of traffic chaos, broken roads and daily commuter misery on Karachi’s busiest corridor, the Sindh High Court on Thursday ordered the government to make University Road fully operational within two months while declaring the sealing of machinery belonging to the BRT Red Line Lot 2 contractor illegal. A two-member constitutional bench announced the verdict in a petition concerning the sealing of the contractor’s office and machinery linked to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line project. In its ruling, the court observed that the residents were facing severe hardships because of the deteriorating condition of University Road and directed the Sindh government to ensure uninterrupted movement of both public and private transport on the route. The bench stated that the provincial government could allocate or reallocate additional funds to complete the work within the stipulated timeframe. However, it made clear that construction activity for the BRT project sh...
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CM Afridi issues directives to apprehend Maulana Idrees' killers, expresses concern over K-P's law and order

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Thursday expressed deep concern over the prevailing law and order situation in the province and said that strict directives had been issued to relevant authorities to apprehend the killers of Maulana Muhammad Idrees. “I am personally reviewing progress on a daily basis. All available resources will be utilised to bring those involved in this incident to justice,” he said during his visit to Charsadda district to attend a prayer event for the cleric. The chief minister posed pointed questions: “Why are such incidents happening? Why are Pakhtuns still displaced and unsafe today?” He added that the enemies of peace made no distinction between any party, school of thought, or organisation, but systematically targeted every effective and capable figure. He also expressed sympathy and condolences to the grieving family, disciples and associates of the slain religious leader. Addressing the att...
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