Category: 1. Pakistan

• MQM’s Hussain admitted to hospital for further treatment.
• Hussain suffering from “emotional stress,” says leader.
• He was previously admitted to ICU back in 2021.
  

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LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder and leader Altaf Hussain has been hospitalised at a North London hospital after developing several complications, including a “stress” on his heart.

Hussain’s party officials told Geo News that Hussain was taken to the hospital on Thursday due to severe illness, where various tests were conducted.

“The doctors decided to admit him to the hospital for further treatment,” said senior London-based MQM leader Mustafa Azizabadi.

Qasim Ali Raza, Deputy Convener MQM Central Coordination Committee said on Friday: “Today, doctors at a local hospital in London examined Mr Altaf Hussain, prescribed various diagnostic tests including blood tests, ECG, CT scan, X-ray and ultrasound.

Mr Altaf Hussain has long been suffering from severe emotional stress. Doctors also recommended a blood transfusion for his treatment and blood has been transfused.”

Hussain was previously admitted to the intensive care unit of the same hospital after contracting Covid-19 in February 2021. He contracted Covid-19 twice in the same year but recovered.

Sources said that Hussain was brought to the hospital after an injury on his feet didn’t heal for several days.

The source said: “He’s a sugar patient. While he was dealing with this, he started feeling a lot of pressure on his heart, and his colleagues rushed him to the hospital. He is now stable.”

The National Emer­gencies Operation Centre (NEOC) of the National Disa­ster Management Authority (NDMA) on Friday issued a weather alert warning that moderate to heavy monsoon rains are expected to affect multiple regions of the country for a three-day period commencing from July 13 (Sunday).

Monsoon rains fall across the region from June to September, offering respite from the summer heat and replenishing water supplies and agriculture. They are crucial to the livelihoods of millions of farmers and food security. However, they also trigger deadly floods, landslides and displacement, particularly in vulnerable, poorly drained, or densely populated areas.

The NEOC advised the public to take precautionary measures in anticipation of rains.

The forecast indicates moderate to heavy monsoon rainfall across various regions of Pakistan due to intensified moisture inflow from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, coupled with an active westerly wave system.

As a result, substantial rises in river flows are expected — most notably in the Indus, Kabul, Jhelum (upstream of Mangla), and Chenab rivers.

The advisory stated that Tarbela, Taunsa, and Guddu barrages were currently at low flood levels, while Kalabagh and Chashma were at medium flood levels.

“Taunsa is also expected to rise to medium flood levels, with low to medium flows likely to persist in Indus river stations throughout the coming week,” the NDMA said.

The Chenab river is expected to reach low flood levels at Marala and Khanki, while low flood levels are also forecasted for the Kabul river at Nowshera.

Rain-induced swelling is anticipated in the Swat and Panjkora rivers, as well as their associated streams and nullahs.

Torrential flows in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur torrents are likely to re-activate with medium to high flows during the upcoming weather spell. In Balochistan, streams and nullahs in north-eastern districts may experience high flows, including Jhal Magsi, Kachhi, Sibi, Qila Saifullah, Zhob, and Musakhel.

Additionally, localised flash flooding is expected in river networks of southern Balochistan districts such as Khuzdar, Awaran, Lasbela, and Qalat. At present, Tarbela Dam is at 74 per cent storage capacity and Mangla Dam is at 44pc according to the forecast.

The NDMA advised residents living near rivers, streams, and nullahs to stay vigilant for sudden surges in water levels, especially during heavy rainfall and nighttime.

“Communities in flood-prone areas should identify safe evacuation routes, secure household items, vehicles, and livestock at elevated locations, and prepare emergency kits with essential supplies, including food, water and medicines sufficient for three to five days,” it said.

“District administration, particularly in northeastern and central Punjab, should prepare de-watering equipment to manage water accumulation due to heavy downpours,” it added.

The NDMA strongly urged the public to remain updated through official flood warnings broadcasted via television, radio, mobile alerts and the Pak NDMA Disaster Alert mobile application.

“All citizens are reminded to avoid crossing causeways, low bridges, and flooded roads.”

The NDMA said that it remains in “close coordination with relevant authorities” to monitor the situation and ensure timely dissemination of alerts.

Sindh prepares for monsoon rains

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah convened a high-level meeting to review and enhance preparations for the upcoming monsoon rains, emphasising readiness across all relevant departments and institutions province-wide.

The meeting, held at the CM House, included provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon, Nasir Shah, Saeed Ghani, Jam Khan Shoro, Zia Lanjar, Mohammad Bux Mahar and Mohammad Ali Malkani. Also present were Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, provincial secretaries, Chief Metrologist Ameer Hyder, and Disaster Management, Water Board, K Electric, Solid Waste heads and representatives from the Corps-V.

The participants of the meeting observed that the weather forecasts predict a “heat-low” pressure area forming earlier than usual over southern Pakistan, with rainfall expected to be normal to slightly above normal during July and August. Upper Sindh may see a 10pc increase in rainfall, while southern Sindh could experience a rise of 20-30pc.

Flood management remains a priority as the Lower Indus region faces significant risks, with potential flooding from the Indus River and hill torrents.

To combat these challenges, the CM has activated all the concerned departments and organisations to improve drainage systems and pumping stations, ensuring they are operational ahead of the monsoon season.

Ongoing restoration efforts from the 2022 floods focus on critical infrastructure improvements to enhance the region’s resilience against flooding.

The CM was told that the cleaning of drains began on June 20, with the operation set to continue until September 15. All major choking points and culverts have been cleared as part of this effort.

Underpasses, including Tariq road, KPT, Submarine, and Mehran, are being prioritised, while emergency response teams remain on high alert across the city.

It was pointed out that the city faced issues such as inadequate infrastructure to handle over 45 millimetres of rain per hour, with challenges including plastic waste and encroachments blocking drains, particularly in District Korangi.

A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Planning and Development took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that a newly proposed motorway between Lahore and Raiwind would span just 16 kilometres — a detail that sparked tough questions from lawmakers.

Chaired by Senator Quratulain Marri, the committee was reviewing ongoing development schemes when Planning Ministry officials disclosed the short length of the planned motorway. They noted the project falls under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), which last fiscal year saw an expenditure of Rs1 trillion. This year, 55 projects not yet approved have been added to the PSDP and will require No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Planning Commission following a comprehensive review.

The committee was also briefed that Rs100 billion has been earmarked for the N-5 Highway in Balochistan, while seven highway projects will receive foreign assistance. Among these, the Islamic Development Bank will fund three sections of the M-6 Motorway, while two others will be completed through public-private partnerships. Upgrades are also planned for the GT Road along the Hyderabad-Sukkur route.

Senator Marri questioned the prioritization of a new motorway in Punjab when several projects in other provinces remain incomplete. “Are you building a motorway just for one house?” she asked, referring to the Lahore-Raiwind route. Officials responded that the Punjab government would finance the project and that the National Highway Authority is currently conducting a land survey.

Meanwhile, Senator Sadia Abbasi raised concerns about termite damage in Islamabad’s public library and proposed the establishment of an Allama Iqbal Research Center along with a new national library. She emphasized the need for responsible use of development funds and cautioned against misinterpreting genuine concerns as political criticism.

Humaira Asghar Ali was laid to rest in the Model Town Q Block graveyard in Lahore on Friday after a sparsely-attended funeral, days after her body was discovered at her apartment in Karachi.

The late actor’s remains were found in her rented apartment on Tuesday in DHA’s Ittehad Commercial by a police team executing a court-ordered eviction notice. The police believe she died eight to 10 months prior to the discovery of her body.

The autopsy report has been released to the police but the coroner could not determine the actor’s cause of death due to the level of decomposition. The authorities are awaiting the chemical examination and histopathological but have so far said they do not believe foul play was involved.

Initially, the police said that they had contacted Ali’s family who had refused to take her body for burial. This caused an uproar on social media with several people and government institutions coming forward to offer to arrange the burial, including celebrities such as Yashma Gill and Sonya Hussyn as well as the Sindh culture department and Sindh governor. On Thursday, Ali’s brother, Naveed Asghar, arrived in Karachi and took custody of her body, indicating his wishes to take it back to Lahore for burial.

He denied reports that the family had refused to claim her body and said, “The body was in police custody. The police had kept the body for investigation before calling us (the family) to claim it.”

He said that for the last three days, the family was in contact with Chhipa and the police, including Station House Officer Farooq Ahmed Sanjrani of the Gizri Police.

“According to the guidelines, we were [eventually] going to receive the body and perform the rites,” he told journalists.

As they await the histopathological and chemical examination reports, the police have said that if any foul play is involved, they will register an FIR and initiate legal proceedings.

At least seven people were killed and two others injured after a vehicle plunged into a deep ravine in the Kurram district on Friday. 

Local authorities and residents rushed to the site to provide assistance and conduct rescue operations, reported Express News.

The incident occurred when the vehicle veered off the road in Central Kurram and fell into a ravine. Law enforcement officers and emergency responders acted swiftly to reach the site and recover the victims.

Rescue efforts continued till the filing of this report and an investigation is underway.

Separately, a young man from Lower Dir Nagri Payeen Talash area, identified as Amjad—son of Muhammad Amin—was killed in a motorcycle accident on his wedding day.

He and his family were en route to his wedding ceremony when the accident occurred.

This recent roadcrashes follow a deadly traffic collision in the Peshawar Pur area of Dera Ismail Khan on Chashma Road the previous day, when five people, including a woman, lost their lives.

Authorities have urged motorists to exercise extra caution, especially on roads prone to high speeds and treacherous terrain.