According to details, the meeting was held at the Prime Minister Office during which views were exchanged about the country’s foreign affairs particularly regional diplomacy.
Hina Rabbani Khar briefed the Prime Minister about Pakistan’s participation in the recently held Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda.
The torrential rains played havoc provincial capital where six persons, including three women, died as roofs and walls of several houses collapsed in Sariab area of Quetta. Several localities of the provincial capital are also without electricity while roads were submerged under rainwater.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Shehk Baloch and Administrator Municipal Corporation Quetta (MCQ) Abdul Jabbar Baloch were monitoring the relief activities.
After the incident, Director General of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Naseer Nasir said on special directive of Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and adviser to CM on Home Ziaullah Langu, rescue team along with relief goods for 50 families were sent to rain affected area of Link Cross Badeni, Sariab and other area to ensure helping of the victims in the area.
"Two women were attacked by a shark while swimming" in the Sahl Hasheesh area south of Hurghada on the Red Sea, the Egyptian ministry said Sunday on Facebook, reporting that both died.
Austrian news agency APA said one of the women was a 68-year-old from the country’s Tyrol region who was holidaying in Egypt.
Austria’s foreign ministry confirmed to media Sunday "the death of an Austrian citizen in Egypt", without providing further details.
Citing information received from Egyptian authorities, Romania’s foreign ministry confirmed to media on Sunday "the death of a Romanian citizen" which "appeared" to have been caused by a "shark attack" off Hurghada.
Red Sea governor Amr Hanafi had on Friday ordered the closure of all beaches in the area for three days after "an Austrian tourist had her left arm torn off, seemingly in a shark attack".
Social media users on Friday shared a video — the authenticity, date and location of which AFP could not independently verify — showing a swimmer struggling before what appeared to be a pool of blood emerged around her.
A task force is working to "identify the scientific causes and circumstances of the attack" and determine "the reasons behind the shark’s behaviour that resulted in the incident", the environment ministry said on Sunday.
The Red Sea is a popular tourist destination, where sharks are common but rarely attack people swimming within authorised limits.
In 2018, a Czech tourist was killed by a shark off a Red Sea beach. A similar attack killed a German tourist in 2015.
In 2010, a spate of five attacks in five days unusually close to the shore of tourist hotspot Sharm el-Sheikh killed one German and injured four other foreign tourists.
Egypt is currently struggling to overcome rising inflation and currency weakness.
The country relies heavily on tourism revenues from the Red Sea, which accounts for some 65% of tourists visiting the country.
The tourism industry has been battered by successive blows over the past decade, including the country’s 2011 uprising, ensuing unrest and the coronavirus pandemic.
The bus, which was carrying more than 30 passengers, was travelling from Islamabad to Quetta. Television footage showed rescue workers assisting bloodied passengers, while in another scene, the wreckage could be seen.
Sherani Assistant Commissioner Mehtab Shah said the incident occurred near Dhana Sar. He said that the bus plunged into the ravine while speeding, killing 19 passengers and injuring 11 others.
Rescue teams rushed to the scene soon after receiving information, Shah said, adding that the bodies had been taken to the hospital where the process to identify them was underway.
Medical superintendent of Civil Hospital Zhob, Dr Noorul Haq, said that the injured being brought to the facility were in critical condition. He also said that the death toll was expected to rise.
Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo expressed grief over the lives lost in the incident. He also expressed sincere condolences to the families of the victims.
The chief minister directed Rescue 1122 and the Zhob administration to reach the scene and begin relief work. He also ordered to impose an emergency in Civil Hospital Zhob to ensure treatment for the injured.
The military’s media wing, in a statement, said the operation was conducted on reported presence of terrorists and these terrorists were involved in terror activities against security forces.
According to ISPR, weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the terrorists killed during the fire exchange.
Last week, the security forces killed four terrorists during an exchange of fire in the general area Dossali, North Waziristan.
The ISPR said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists during the encounter.
“…we wish to record our appreciation regarding the positive and constructive attitude adopted and the role played not only by the top leadership of three political parties involved in the dispute but also by the respective learned counsel,” the SC said in a 10-page detailed order, penned by Justice Ijazul Ahsan, who was part of the three-member bench, which included Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Jamal Mandokhail.
In its verdict a day earlier, the apex court announced that the re-election for the Punjab chief minister’s slot would be held on July 22 — after the provincial government, PTI, and PML-Q reached a consensus.
The PTI had filed a plea in the top court seeking the annulment of the Lahore High Court's (LHC) decision that had ordered the governor to hold a re-count for the Punjab CM's slot on Friday at 4pm.
During yesterday's hearing, Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervez Elahi — a contender for the CM's slot — had initially agreed that Hamza Shahbaz could remain the chief minister till July 17, but the PTI disagreed.
In a bid to break the deadlock, the top court directed Elahi to speak to PTI Chairman Imran Khan and come up with a solution — as it adjourned the hearing for a third time.
After the hearing resumed, all the parties agreed that Hamza would remain the chief minister till the re-election — on July 22.
In the detailed order, the apex court said that after all the parties had assured the court that they would ensure the constitution is upheld, it decided to amend the LHC order — extending the date for the election to July 22.
The order mentioned that the election will take place in the Punjab Assembly Building at 4pm in line with the suggestions by the provincial assembly speaker, Pervez Elahi and, consented by CM Punjab Hamza and Babar Awan, who was representing Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Provincial Assembly Sibtain Khan.
The session will be chaired by the deputy speaker of the assembly, Dost Mazari, while the notification for the session will be issued within a week’s time, the order said.
The order noted that till the time of the re-election, Hamza, in line with the constitution, has “undertaken before the court that he and his cabinet shall exercise the powers and function their offices strictly in fiduciary capacity” to support the process of by-election — slated for July 17.
“…such commitment to act as trustees is meant to fulfil the duty of care towards citizens of Punjab so that they are not deprived of due representation and governance, and to avoid any constitutional vacuum, anomaly or complication,” it stated.
The order said that the process of the by-elections shall be completed as per the schedule already announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The court said that the ECP as well as all relevant state functionaries shall ensure that all parties follow the election laws as well as the code of conduct issued by the ECP in their letter and spirit.
It asked them to refrain from any interference, inducement, or influence in the affairs of the executive, the local administration, the ECP, etc., or indulge in corrupt and illegal practices.
The court issued directives that state machinery should not be used in the process of by-elections to harass and intimidate opponents.
“No transfers or postings of officials of the local administration, police, provincial election commission, etc shall be undertaken in order to ensure fairness and transparency of the election except in accordance with specific provisions of the Election Act, 2017 and the Code of Conduct to meet emergency situations,” it said.
The order said that Elahi has given categoric assurance that all matters relating to the business of the assembly shall be handled and dealt with peacefully, impartially and transparently within the assembly chambers and its relevant offices in accordance with the Constitution, the law and the rules.
In addition, all parties, including Hamza, have categorically assured and stated that a peaceful and congenial atmosphere will be maintained not only during the poll but also in the proceedings in the provincial assembly.
“We expect that such undertakings and assurances shall be honoured and implemented,” it said.
“It is unreservedly and categorically agreed and undertaken by all parties before us that it is the constitutional, legal and moral responsibility of all political parties and their members/candidates involved in by-elections and the subsequent voting in the provincial assembly to abide by the ECP Code of Conduct and the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly and the norms/conventions of the parliamentary conduct.”
The resolve was expressed as Gen Raza undertakes an official visit to Iran.
According to a statement by the military’s media wing, during the meeting, "matters of bilateral strategic interest and regional security environment including strengthening of bilateral security and defence cooperation between the two countries were brought into the discussion".
Both sides displayed "a desire to initiate meaningful and long-lasting security and defence cooperation between the two countries", said the statement.
Chairman JCSC also held separate meetings with Defence Minister Brigadier General Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani, Chief of General Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Commander-in-Chief Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Major General Hossein Salami, Commander of Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Shahram Irani and Commander of Air Force Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi.
"The dignitaries discussed measures to enhance the level and scope of military engagements between both countries and pledged to continue to forge deeper ties," read the ISPR statement.
Both sides highlighted that common borders should be "Borders of Peace and Friendship", it added.
The Iranian military leadership lauded the professionalism of Pakistan Armed Forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.
Earlier, upon arrival at General Staff Headquarters a smartly turned-out contingent presented 'Guard of Honour' to the Chairman Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
