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Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the district administrations to ascertain the scale of damage caused by recent floods in the province.

According to a statement, she directed the deputy commissioners to conduct surveys in flood-affected areas for the purpose.

She also directed the officials to provide clean drinking water, and carry out fumigation and dry germicidal sprays in flood relief camps and tent cities in the affected areas across Punjab. The regional additional chief secretary was directed to make the best possible arrangements for flood-affected people of South Punjab.

The chief minister directed the official to submit a detailed report with regard to rescue and relief operations.

She emphasised the need to provide shoes, clothes and other essential supplies to flood-affected families, especially women and children living in relief camps.

She said, “People have been forced out of their homes due to the flood emergency situation. We cannot leave them alone.”

The chief minister also pointed out a risk of disease outbreaks once the floodwater recedes, stressing the need for pre-emptive measures.

She ordered the authorities concerned to ensure the provision of mobile healthcare services in remote flood-affected areas.

The chief minister ordered the deployment of teams of gynaecologists, gastroenterologists and skin specialists to visit flood-affected regions.

She announced special allowances for doctors, paramedical and other personnel serving in flood-affected areas.

The chief minister issued directions that tents and living spaces must be provided while keeping in view the flood victims’ needs and convenience.

She ordered recruitment of agriculture interns to support farmers and emphasised that ample fodder and vaccination should be provided for livestock in the flood-affected areas. She also ordered measures to protect animals from diseases.

The chief minister was informed that livestock interns would be assigned responsibility of animal care.

She directed the deputy commissioners to work in close liaison with the relevant departments to ensure swift restoration of electricity, gas and other facilities after floodwater recedes, and stressed the importance of all departments staying on high alert given the flood emergency situation in the province.

She also ordered improvements in overall arrangements in flood relief camps, including cleanliness and sanitation.

The chief minister ordered the deployment of ‘Suthra Punjab’ programme teams in flood relief camps along with dustbins, garbage containers and covered waste bins.

She emphasised that precautions must be made to prevent the outbreak and spread of infectious diseases in flood relief camps. She reiterated the need for anti-mosquito spray in flood relief camps to prevent outbreak of malaria and other infectious diseases.

During a video address, she directed the commissioners and DCs to provide everythig necessary to people living in flood relief camps. She underscored that attention must be paid to sanitation and other issues in the camps.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also directed the administration, rescue and all other relevant departments to remain active for carrying out relief operations in view of the extraordinary flood situation across Punjab. She directed the authorities to ensure the provision of all necessary medicines at health centres in flood-affected areas, besides ensuring availability of medicines to treat diseases arising from stagnant rainwater.

She also ordered provision of sanitary kits to women in relief camps, and underscored that services of Clinics-on-Wheels, Field Hospitals, and Mother and Child Clinics should be provided in flood-affected areas across Punjab at the earliest.

The chief minister ordered improvements in medical relief camps in flood-affected areas. She directed the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to immediately provide tents and other essential items in flood-affected districts as per need, besides making preparations in anticipation of potential flood emergency situations.

She was informed that the largest evacuation and rescue operation in Punjab’s history had been carried out swiftly.

She noted that Punjab is facing a super flood emergency situation, and said timely, effective arrangements have saved thousands of lives. She underscored that due to early evacuation of flood victims to safe places, 250,000 people remained safe.

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday granted post-arrest bail to Shahrez Khan, nephew of PTI’s founding chairman Imran Khan, in the Jinnah House attack case.

ATC Judge Manzer Ali Gill, after reserving judgment on arguments presented by both sides, announced the decision allowing Shahrez’s bail.

During proceedings, Shahrez’s counsel, Rana Mudassar Umar, argued that the allegation of inciting the public against his client was baseless.

He said a thorough investigation, including geofencing, produced no evidence linking Shahrez to the May 9 incident.

He pointed out that while the police challan contained details of both nominated and unidentified accused, Shahrez’s name did not appear anywhere, suggesting what he called a “forged implication.”

The counsel further contended that Shahrez was arrested more than two years after the riots, describing the arrest as politically motivated.

He submitted affidavits claiming Shahrez was in Chitral from May 6 to 12, 2023, at the time of the violence.

Despite this, he said, police arrested him and even alleged recovery of a club from him after two years, which the defence termed a “mockery.”

He maintained that over 500 accused in the case had already secured bail, yet Shahrez was singled out for arrest. He also noted that Shahrez, an athlete, was being unfairly targeted, which could harm Pakistan’s image abroad.

The prosecution opposed the plea, insisting that evidence existed against the accused and urging the court to reject the bail. However, the court granted Shahrez post-arrest bail.

Meanwhile, the ATC also fixed hearing of the bail petition filed by Shahrez’s brother, Sher Shah, for September 4.

Police officials have been directed to produce the case record at the hearing.

Sher Shah’s counsel argued that his client was also implicated for political reasons. He said the police alleged Sher Shah appeared in a video with his cousin, Barrister Hassan Niazi—convicted earlier by a military court—at the crime scene. However, the defence maintained that mere presence in a video did not establish guilt.

Shahrez was arrested on August 21 and produced before court the next day, while his brother Sher Shah was taken into custody on August 22 and presented before court on August 23.