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NINE TERRORISTS NEUTRALIZED, 3 OFFICERS INJURED IN HANGU JOINT OPERATION: POLICE
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Sunday, 20 July, 2025 | 24 Muharram, 1447
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 12 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
g THE CONDITION OF HANGU DPO AND DOABA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE POLICE SHO IS STABLE, AND THEY ARE UNDERGOING DETERMINED TO CONTINUE THEIR FIGHT TREATMENT AT CMH KOHAT: IGP OFFICE AGAINST TERRORISM: KP POLICE IG
Major martyred, child among three injured in Quetta magnetic IED blast QUETTA
Death toll in Gaza rises to 116: hospital sources GAZA
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HANGU
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InE terrorists were killed and three security officers, including a district police officer, sustained gunshot wounds in a joint operation carried out by police and other law enforcement agencies following intelligence about the presence of terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu district, police confirmed on Saturday. According to the district police office, a fierce exchange of gunfire took place, during which Hangu District Police Officer (DPO) Mohammad Khalid Khan and Doaba SHO nabi Khan were injured, along with one officer from the security forces. In a statement, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed said that the police carried out a joint operation in Hangu’s Zargari Shinawari area following intelligence about
terrorists. The KP IG said DPO Hangu injured in an operation against terrorists. “nine terrorists killed in Hangu operation while District Police Officer (DPO) Khalid Khan is undergoing treatment at the Kohat Combined Military Hospital,” a statement issued later by Kohat Regional Police Officer DIG Abbas Majeed said.
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the attack, saying its “special tactical operation unit carried out a targeted attack on an army officer in Quetta.” In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, “Major Muhammad Anwar Kakar Shaheed, a brave son of #Balochistan, was martyred today during a cowardly attack by #India proxy Fitna al-Hindustan in Balochistan.”
Five Khawarij killed, eight lassoed in Malakand operation: local official MALAKAND
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At least five terrorists were killed, and eight others were arrested in a joint operation carried out by police, the CounterTerrorism Department (CTD), and other agencies in Khyber security Pakhtunkhwa’s Malakand district on Sat-
ADB experts visit Karachi-Rohri rail section to assess ‘funding feasibility’ for ML-1 first package LAHORE/KARACHI staff report
A Pakistan Army Major was martyred and three civilians, including a child, were injured in a magnetic improvised explosive device (IED) blast here in the provincial metropolis, police and the military’s media wing said on Saturday. According to police, the explosion targeted a private vehicle in the western bypass area of Quetta. “One man identified as Major Anwar Kakar was martyred, and three civilians, including a minor girl, were injured in the attack,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sadar Shoukat Jadoon, confirming that the initial investigation revealed that Major Kakar was the primary target. The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for
agencies
Pakistan Railways is considering financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the muchtalked-about and long-delayed Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway track upgrade and for the purpose, experts from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), along with railway officials, inspected the 480-kilometer KarachiRohri section, according to an official statement. According to a statement from the railways headquarters, the ADB’s fact-finding team, including its chief transport planner, along with railway officials, inspected the 480-kilometer track line on the KarachiRohri section. The ambitious ML-1, a 1,687-kilometer Karachi–Peshawar rail track upgrade, is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and will cost $6.7 billion. The upgrade involves track doubling, advanced signaling, and higher-speed trains and is expected to boost cargo and passenger capacity. The upgrade will not only ease access to Reko Diq but also ensure uninterrupted and faster transportation of Thar coal. It is to be noted that the Karachi-to-Rohri track upgrade is part of the first package of ML-1. “Experts from the Asian Development Bank inspected the Karachi to Rohri railway line today,” the PR said in a statement, elaborating that the ADB’s Chief Transport Planner Sangyoon Kim, conducted the 480-kilometer track inspection alongside the chief engineer (open lines) of Pakistan Railways. “ADB’s fact-finding specialists will prepare a report on the readiness of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project, following which a final decision regarding the project’s financing will be made,” the statement stated. Initially, the project was approved by the Economic Coordination Committee in 2020 but has repeatedly stalled, mainly due to a paucity of funds.
urday, according to police. According to the police, the operation was carried out in the Sakhakot and Mehrday areas of tehsil Dargai in the Malakand district while acting on a tip-off about the presence of the terrorists of Finta al-Khawarij. According to Dargai Tehsil Assistant Commissioner Waheedullah Khan, a major operation was carried out in the
Mehrday and Sakhakot areas. “Police and CTD took part in the successful operation,” the AC said. “Five terrorists were eliminated and two were injured, while eight were captured alive.” The AC added that the arrested terrorists were transported to the CTD center, while the injured were moved to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Dargai.
Monsoon fury claims over 200 lives as NEOC issues another alert across Pakistan ISLAMABAD
staff report
At least 202 people, including 96 children, lost their lives in various rain-related incidents since the start of the monsoon season in late June across Pakistan, while the national Emergencies Operation Center (nEOC) has issued another wideranging impact-based weather alert, warning of potential flash floods, urban inundation, and glacial water surges from July 19 to 25, (Saturday to Friday). According to the national Disaster Management Authority’s (nDMA) nEOC on Saturday, the alerts cover vulnerable districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, and Islamabad, where heavy rains are expected to disrupt daily life and pose serious risks to low-lying and mountainous communities. According to the nDMA data, Punjab topped the monsoon death toll with 123 deaths, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded 40 deaths, Sindh 21, Balochistan 16, and Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir reported one each. The causes of death varied widely, with at least 118 killed due to house collapses, 30 from flash floods, and others due to drowning, lightning strikes, electrocution, and landslides, the nDMA report said. Over 200 dead as relentless monsoon rains wreak havoc across Pakistan The rains have injured more than 560 people, including 182 children, it said.
At least 116 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since dawn, sources in the territory’s hospitals have told Al Jazeera. Among the victims were 36 people who were seeking aid, they said. More than 100 others have been injured in the latest attacks, which struck several neighbourhoods and aid distribution areas across the besieged enclave. Emergency workers said the number of casualties may rise, as some of the wounded are in critical condition. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump claimed that 10 more Israeli captives will be released “very shortly”, though he gave no details or timeline. Speaking at a dinner with lawmakers at the White House on Friday night, Trump praised the efforts of his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. “We got most of the hostages back. We’re going to have another 10 coming very shortly, and we hope to have that finished quickly,” he said. Trump has repeatedly claimed a ceasefire and release deal is near, though no agreements have materialised. ‘No one should have to risk their life to get basic assistance’: Red Cross chief Jagan Chapagain, secretary general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), has again warned that Palestinians in Gaza face “an acute risk of famine”, and the situation is getting worse, Al Jazeera reports. “Basic food supplies are no longer available in markets or distribution points,” Chapagain said in a post on X. “The cost of remaining essentials, such as flour, has skyrocketed, with 1 kilogramme now reaching as much as $20, making it impossible for two million people to meet their minimum daily nutritional needs.” He also reiterated a call “for full and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance” to Gaza, which remains under an Israeli blockade. UK police arrest 55 at parliament rally for banned Palestine Action group Fifty-five people have been arrested at a rally for the banned Palestine Action group outside Britain’s parliament, Reuters reports quoting London’s Metropolitan Police. The crowd in Parliament Square had been waving placards supporting the group that was banned this month under anti-terrorism legislation, the force said in a post on X.
PTI disgruntles refuse to withdraw, adamant to contesting Senate polls PESHAWAR
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On the other hand, the nDMA has directed disaster management authorities to remain on high alert, expedite drainage clearance, and prepare emergency teams for rapid response. Citizens are strongly advised to avoid high-risk travel, remain indoors during intense downpours, and follow official guidance via the nDMA Disaster Alert App. The alerts cover potential flash floods and urban flooding across different regions of the country, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, low to moderate rainfalls are expected to continue up to July 25, with an increased risk of flash flooding in the upper catchments of major rivers. River Kabul at nowshera and its tributaries, such as the Swat, Panjkora, Bara, and Kalpani nullah may experience rising water levels due to glacial melting and rain-induced in-
flows. There is a heightened flood risk in low-lying areas and disruption in transportation, especially in hilly and mountainous regions. In Islamabad and Punjab, strong monsoon currents are expected to penetrate central and upper regions from July 21 to 24, bringing moderate to heavy rainfall across Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Taunsa, Rajanpur, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan. Urban flooding is anticipated in major metropolitan cities due to heavy downpours, especially in low-lying zones. Sindh is forecast to receive low to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms between July 19 and 24, affecting districts such as Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Jacobabad, Thatta, Badin, Larkana, Jamshoro, nawabshah, and Mirpurkhas.
Disgruntled leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have vowed to contest the upcoming Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), scheduled for July 21, and rejected the withdrawal calls. The resolve was expressed during a meeting of disgruntled PTI leaders, which was attended by Khurram Zeeshan, Irfan Saleem, and Ayesha Bano. Speaking during the meeting, Khurram said that this issue goes far beyond Senate elections, noting that he would not withdraw, bow, or compromise. Slamming the PTI KP leadership for a political alliance with the opposition, he asked: "Is this what our leader envisioned?" Saleem echoed Khurram's remarks, saying that they stand by principles and will remain so. “We will contest and never become part of this flawed system,” he added. Earlier, it was reported that the upcoming Senate elections in KP would be held unopposed, as PTI officially endorsed the list of candidates selected by party founder Imran Khan. PTI’s political committee met a day earlier and endorsed the same nominees previously proposed by the party’s parliamentary board. The development came following a broader understanding between the provincial government and the opposition to hold uncontested Senate elections.
Dar to visit US next week to attend ‘high-level events’ of Pakistan’s UNSC Presidency ISLAMABAD
staff report
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit the United States next week to attend the high-level signature events of Pakistan’s Un Security Council (UnSC) Presidency in new York, as well as for certain engagements in Washington. In new York, as part of Pakistan’s Security Council signature events, the deputy premier will chair a high-level open debate on “Promoting international peace and security through multilateralism and peaceful settlement of disputes.” “The high-level debate aims at exploring ways to strengthen multilateralism and at enhancing diplomacy and mediation for peaceful settlement of disputes,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a press release on Saturday. In addition, the foreign minister will pre-
side over the quarterly open debate of the Security Council on the “Situation in the Middle East including the Palestinian Question.” He will also chair a high-level briefing of the Un Security Council that will focus on enhancing cooperation between the Un and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The meeting is being held as part of Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen collaboration between the OIC and the Un for the maintenance of international peace and security. To express Pakistan’s strong commitment and unwavering support for the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, Dar will also attend the high-level Conference on the “Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the implementation of Two-State Solution”. During his stay in new York, he is expected to also have several bilateral engagements with his counterparts, as well as senior Un officials. “Dar’s visit to new York and Washing-
ton exemplifies Pakistan’s growing role and importance in the multilateral arena as well as its expanding multifaceted relations with the US,” said the statement. “Pakistan’s high-level participation in the Un Security Council’s Quarterly Debate on the Middle East as well as the International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution is also a testimony to Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to and support for the Palestinian cause,” it concluded. The visit came weeks after Pakistan formally recommended US President Donald Trump for the 2026 nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in defusing tensions between Pakistan and India earlier this year. A letter of recommendation, signed by DPM Dar, was sent to the nobel Committee in norway. According to the government, the move
recognizes President Trump’s efforts in bringing about a ceasefire between the two nuclear-
armed neighbors and for highlighting the Kashmir dispute on the international stage.