Fresh monsoon triggers red alert in Pak
PESHAWAR, Aug 23: Pakistan has issued a red alert warning for heavy monsoon rains and landslides until August 29. The warning comes after earlier monsoon spells from June 26 to August 20 that claimed over 788 lives and 1,018 injuries. The NDMA has warned that torrential rains with strong winds are forecast until August 27 in Islamabad, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Flooding in urban areas is feared in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, and Gujranwala in Punjab, while landslides may strike Swat, Chitral, Hazara, and other northern hilly belts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Heavy showers are likely in Rawalpindi and surrounding districts, with flash floods threatening the southwestern regions of Punjab. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is expected to face intense downpours in Peshawar, Swat, Chitral, and Hazara division. River levels could rise sharply due to reservoirs nearing full capacity, and the Indus may swell to 500,000 cusecs at Taunsa, Guddu, and Kalabagh in Punjab. The NDMA is monitoring the situation and placing provincial and district authorities on high alert for rescue and relief operations. (PTI)
Gilgit-Baltistan police protest over pay worsens unrest
ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) is facing escalating unrest as police personnel protest over delayed allowances and benefits have faced suspensions and salary halts. The unrest began in mid-August when hundreds of officers staged an overnight sit-in outside the regional authority’s residence. The officers demanded the release of allowances approved in the regional budget but withheld in practice. Authorities suspended 26 officers, nine more in Hunza, and suspended 35 officers. The protesters argued that their actions fell within the constitutional right to peaceful demonstration. The ongoing unrest in PoGB echoes the protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in July, where tens of thousands of police officers staged a “pen-down strike” to push a 10-point charter of demands. Senior police officers have voiced support for the rank-and-file, and traders, lawyers, and civil society have rallied behind the protests. Analysts suggest that continued suspensions and dismissals may deepen mistrust and exacerbate instability. (IANS)
CBI extradites gangster Sunil Kumar from Azerbaijan
NEW DELHI, Aug 23: In a major crackdown on organized crime, the CBI brought back fugitive Sunil Kumar, a key member of the Aman Sahu gang, from Azerbaijan on August 23. Kumar, alias Mayank Singh, was wanted by Jharkhand Police in multiple extortion cases involving threats to contractors and businesspersons. A Red Notice was issued by INTERPOL in October 2024, and his extradition was secured with the help of Azerbaijani authorities. The CBI’s International Police Cooperation Unit coordinated the operation. Kumar’s return is seen as a major boost to efforts against the Aman Sahu gang. (IANS)