Month: August 2026

Islamabad: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Friday issued a nationwide flood alert from July 31 to August 2, warning of rising river flows, possible flash floods, urban flooding and landslides across several parts of Pakistan due to ongoing monsoon rains, while directing local administrations to take precautionary measures and urging citizens to avoid unnecessary travel in vulnerable areas.

According to the NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC), a medium-level flood is continuing at Guddu Barrage on the Indus River, while low-level flooding persists at Kalabagh, Chashma and Sukkur.

The authority warned that water flows in the Chenab River could rise to medium-to-high levels at Marala, while Khanki and Qadirabad may experience low-to-medium flows over the next two days.

Low-to-medium flood levels are also expected in the Jhelum, Ravi and Kabul rivers, as well as their associated streams and tributaries. Authorities forecast a significant increase in water flow in nullahs linked to the Jhelum, Chenab and Ravi rivers.

The alert highlighted the risk of intense flows in hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur, while flash flooding is also feared in seasonal streams across central and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern Balochistan.

NDMA identified Mohmand, Bajaur, Buner, Mardan, Kurram, South Waziristan, Shangla and Peshawar among the districts where streams and nullahs could overflow.

In Balochistan, flash floods may occur in the Nari, Bolan, Kangri and Lehri river systems due to heavy rainfall in upper catchment areas.

The authority also warned of urban flooding and water accumulation in low-lying areas of several Punjab cities, including Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Gujrat, Narowal, Lahore, Okara, Sahiwal and Faisalabad.

In Sindh, urban flooding is feared in Nawabshah, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar, Khairpur, Mithi, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar and Tharparkar.

Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda and Mardan are also identified as vulnerable to urban flooding during the ongoing spell.

NDMA advised the public to avoid unnecessary travel to flood-prone areas and warned that landslides, debris flows and flash floods could occur in mountainous regions during the monsoon season.

Citizens were urged not to cross flooded roads, streams or fast-flowing water on foot or by vehicle, as even shallow water currents can sweep away people and vehicles.

The authority further advised travellers to carry drinking water, dry food, first-aid supplies, flashlights, power banks and emergency contact information, and to stay updated through the official Pak NDMA Disaster Alert mobile application.

Local administrations have been directed to remain vigilant, implement preventive measures and ensure preparedness for any emergency arising from the evolving monsoon situation.

Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has set for hearing an appeal filed by the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seeking his transfer to a hospital after Chief Justice Yahya Afridi set aside the Registrar Office’s objections and ordered the petition to be assigned a regular case number.

Chief Justice Yahya Afridi heard the chamber appeal on Friday against the Registrar Office’s objections to the petition relating to the PTI founder’s transfer to a hospital.

During the proceedings, counsel for the PTI founder, Uzair Karamat Bhandari, appeared before the court. The Chief Justice directed the counsel to submit a duly signed vakalatnama (power of attorney).

The court ordered the Registrar Office to assign a regular number to the appeal and club it with a pending petition of Uzma Khan.

The Chief Justice also accepted the request for an early hearing of both the PTI founder’s petition and the petition filed by Uzma Khan.

Islamabad: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to launch a Faceless Income Tax Refund System to enable the automated processing of eligible tax refunds and their direct electronic transfer into taxpayers’ bank accounts, saying the move would reduce delays and improve taxpayer facilitation.

The recommendation came while deciding a complaint filed by M/s Sprint Oil and Gas Services FZC, which sought the release of an income tax refund of Rs 42.86 million for tax year 2025. The company had submitted its online refund application on April 13, but alleged that the refund remained pending despite the expiry of the statutory 60-day processing period.

According to the complaint, the delay constituted maladministration under the Federal Tax Ombudsman Ordinance, 2000. The complainant also referred to an Islamabad High Court directive calling for the implementation of an automated refund mechanism under Section 170A of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, to minimise taxpayer interaction with tax offices and speed up refund payments.

In its response, the Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue, Corporate Tax Office (CTO), Islamabad, stated that refund applications were being processed on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis under FBR instructions and that the taxpayer’s claim was still under verification after notices were issued seeking supporting documents.

After reviewing the record, the Tax Ombudsman Zafar Hijazi ruled that the refund application had remained pending beyond the statutory timeframe and that such delay amounted to maladministration due to departmental neglect and inattention. The FTO rejected the department’s reliance on the FIFO policy as a justification for prolonged delays, observing that administrative procedures could not override taxpayers’ legal rights.

The FTO directed FBR to instruct the Commissioner Inland Revenue (Refund Zone), CTO Islamabad, to decide the pending refund claim in accordance with the law after determining the nature of the taxes paid or deducted and submit a compliance report within 30 days.

In a significant policy recommendation, the Ombudsman advised FBR to operationalise a Faceless Income Tax Refund System under Section 170A of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001. The proposed system would allow refunds, verified through the Board’s computerised system, to be transferred electronically into taxpayers’ notified bank accounts without requiring formal refund applications, similar to the faceless customs clearance and assessment regimes already introduced by FBR.

The FTO said such a mechanism would enhance efficiency, reduce taxpayer hardship and promote a modern, technology-driven tax administration.

Islamabad: He said terrorists were now recording their attacks and releasing videos to create a narrative that the security situation in Balochistan was worsening.

“They carry out terrorist activities, film them, and release videos. Then elitists and sardarists start crying about the deteriorating situation,” he added.

He said terrorists targeted infrastructure and promoted propaganda about a lack of development in the province, adding that India was also involved in such activities.

The DG ISPR said terrorists were also using “honey-trapping” tactics to recruit women for terrorist activities.

He said terrorists kidnapped and abused girls before blackmailing them into carrying out attacks.

He further said that around 300 Indian websites were being operated for promoting terrorism in Balochistan, while more than 1,000 social media accounts were being used for similar purposes. He added that a “hostile diaspora” was also involved in propaganda linked to terrorism.

The DG ISPR stressed the importance of empowering and engaging the people of Balochistan. “We are committed to engaging and talking directly with the people,” he added.

He said Rs70 billion had been allocated for socioeconomic projects in Balochistan, while Rs24 billion had been earmarked for the Balochistan Special Development Initiative.

He added that various projects aimed at improving road connectivity, IT training, and human resource development were also underway.

The DG ISPR reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding position on the Kashmir dispute, saying Kashmir “was, is, and will remain the jugular vein of Pakistan.”

Responding to a question, he said Pakistan’s relationship with the people of Kashmir was based on shared religion, culture, values, and a common worldview.

“Kashmir was Pakistan, is Pakistan, and will remain Pakistan,” he said, adding that generations of Pakistanis had grown up with a commitment to the Kashmir cause.

The DG ISPR said Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir was based on legal, constitutional, and international principles.

He said the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) had faced repression since 1947-48.

“They seek to come towards Pakistan because they are living under a cruel and repressive system that has deprived them of their rights,” he said and added that the people of Kashmir looked towards Pakistan with the hope of dignity, justice, and freedom.

The DG ISPR said India had spent billions of rupees to suppress the people of IIOJK but had failed to change their aspirations.

“They have spent billions on military deployment, but they cannot buy the conscience of the Kashmiri people,” he said.

The DG ISPR said the situation in IIOJK should be assessed by listening to the voices of Kashmiris, as well as Muslims, Sikhs, and other minority communities in India.

“Ask the people of Kashmir, India’s Muslims, Sikhs, and other minorities about their experiences. Ask them whether they enjoy justice and equal rights,” he said.

He added that coercive measures could not change people’s aspirations or their desire for rights.

The DG ISPR said Pakistan’s relationship with Kashmir and its people was built on decades of shared sacrifices.

“Which army are you talking about? Is it the Pakistan Army? More than 100,000 Kashmiris are part of this army. Our soldiers and generals have served alongside the people of Kashmir,” he said.

The DG ISPR said Pakistan’s connection with Kashmir had been strengthened through sacrifices, recalling the services of Pakistani soldiers who lost their lives in the region.

He mentioned Captain Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed, Pakistan’s first recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider, who was martyred in Kashmir, and paid tribute to soldiers including Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed and Havaldar Lalak Jan Shaheed.

He said thousands of Pakistanis and Kashmiris had sacrificed their lives for the Kashmir cause.

The DG ISPR also rejected misinformation circulating on social media, saying unverified claims about deaths and incidents were being used to create false narratives.

He said some individuals declared dead in social media posts later appeared in videos confirming they were alive, while local communities had also rejected false claims about incidents in their areas.

Clarifying the role of security forces in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), he said law and order responsibilities rested with

the AJK government and police, supported by civil forces.

He paid tribute to AJK police personnel who had stood against violence while protecting their communities.

The DG ISPR said Pakistan’s position remained unchanged.

“We are Pakistanis, Pakistan is ours, and there is no force that can come between this relationship,” he said.

He said the electoral process in AJK was continuing and assemblies would be formed according to the constitutional framework.

He added that those responsible for violence and wrongdoing would have to face accountability.

“Whoever committed injustice, whoever killed someone, and whoever carried out acts of violence will have to answer for their actions,” he said.

The DG ISPR stressed that accountability was necessary to ensure justice and stability in the region.

Responding to another question, the DG ISPR said international human rights organisations should focus on whether Afghanistan was fulfilling its international commitments, ensuring freedom of expression, and protecting women’s rights.

“The real question is whether the commitments made by Afghanistan have been fulfilled and whether women there have been given their rights,” he said.

He criticised “double standards” in reporting on terrorism and security operations.

The DG ISPR said some reports were based on statements from individuals who lacked credibility, while certain organisations ignored facts on the ground.

He said Pakistan had faced terrorism from groups that were “sponsored, supported, facilitated, and provided shelter” from across the border.

“We will fight. This is a matter of our survival. We will fight, we are winning, and we will keep winning. Salutes to the heroes and martyrs of Pakistan,” the DG ISPR said.

Islamabad: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Friday announced that the spillways of Rawal Dam will be opened at 6am on Saturday after the reservoir’s water level rose to 1,748.30 feet amid ongoing monsoon rains, prompting authorities to issue warnings for a likely increase in water flow in Korang Nullah and alert residents living along its banks.

According to the NDMA, all relevant federal, provincial and local authorities have been informed in advance to ensure preparedness and public safety measures before the controlled release of water from the dam.

The authority warned that water levels in Korang Nullah are expected to rise significantly once the spillways are opened.

Residents of communities located along the nullah have been advised to remain vigilant and closely follow instructions issued by local administrations and emergency services.

NDMA urged the public to avoid entering the nullah or attempting to cross temporary bridges and low-lying crossings if water flow intensifies.

The authority said precautionary measures were being taken to minimise risks to life and property, while emergency response agencies remained on alert to deal with any eventuality arising from the increased discharge.

Citizens were advised to stay updated through official alerts and avoid unnecessary movement near waterways during the release operation.

Islamabad: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Friday acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Azam Swati in a case related to the alleged financing of the October 4 protest, citing a lack of evidence.

ATC Judge, Tahir Abbas Sipra announced the verdict during the hearing, observing that the prosecution had failed to produce any evidence linking the senator to the alleged offence.

Addressing Azam Swati in the courtroom, the judge remarked that not a single prosecution witness had testified against him. He further noted that although the prosecution had alleged financial support for the protest, it had failed to produce even a single bank account or financial record to substantiate the claim.

The court also observed that Azam Swati was already in jail when the case was registered against him.

Judge Sipra clarified that Swati’s acquittal would not affect the proceedings against the remaining accused, as their trial would continue separately and the nature of the allegations against them was different.

The court subsequently acquitted Azam Swati for want of evidence. The case had been registered against the PTI senator at Noon Police Station.