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• US embassies urge citizens to ‘consider departing’ the region
• Iran says any country acting as US defensive shield will be engulfed by flames of war
• Official insists Tehran planning for worst-case scenarios
• 30 commercial vessels redirected by US naval blockade, says Centcom
• Tanker struck by ‘unknown projectile’ off Oman; Kuwait destroys hostile drones
• Houthis deny plans to impose fees on ships sailing through Red Sea

TEHRAN: United States embassies in capitals across the Middle East urged Ame­rican citizens to beware of an “unforeseen escalation” in the regional conflict and asked them to be ready to leave on Saturday as Iran’s military accused the US of “escalating tensions” in the region and warned countries against cooperating with Washington.

US embassies in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates posted the alerts online.

“Americans in the region should consider departing, or be prepared to depart should there be escalation,” said the security alert.

The messages urged citizens to check flight details and to follow safety advice from local authorities.

“Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions,” it said.

Americans in Jordan were told not to visit US military bases there, which have recently come under Iranian missile att­ack, and in Israel they were urged to seek the location of the nearest bomb shelter.

“The Iranian regime is unpredictable, as seen by its recent decisions to attack areas in the region without warning or provocations as well as to expand attacks to areas not previously targeted [such as Egypt],” said a post on the US Embassy Jerusalem site.

The US embassy in Beirut said that the mission remained on “ordered departure status”, meaning that non-emergency US government personnel were still relocated outside of Lebanon.

Iran’s warning

“The United States is rapidly moving down the path of escalating tensions in the region,” said Ali Abdollahi, head of Iran’s military central command.

“Any country serving as a defensive shield for criminal and aggressive America will be engulfed by the flames of war,” he said in a statement read on state television.

The remarks came after US President Donald Trump reiterated threats to hit Iran “very hard”.

US media reported he was considering renewed heavy attacks as soon as this weekend, including against energy infrastructure targets.

This week, Iran and the US resumed overnight exchanges of fire after a days-long lull in fighting although there were no reported strikes overnight Friday to Saturday.

Mohammad Mokhber, adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, also warned against any attacks on Iranian infrastructure.

“You calculate through military equations, but we respond with the logic of history,” he wrote on X. “Attacking Iran’s infrastructure directly awakens the fault lines on which 250 years of your hegemonic architecture have been built.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian praised the Iranian people as “heroes” for enduring the US-Israeli war on the country, Al Jazeera reported.

Despite having endured “wars, pressure, and relentless hostilities”, Pezeshkian wrote on X, “The future of Iran will be shaped by the people of Iran.”

Separately, Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref was quoted by the semi-official Fars news agency as saying that the country was preparing supplies for the next two years, without elaborating on the types of supplies, Al Jazeera reported.

The official said maintaining peace among the people would continue to be the main priority and that the government was planning “even for the worst conditions”.

Kuwait ‘destroys hostile drones’

On Wednesday a drone struck a US-owned gas vessel moored in an Egyptian port, causing a fire. Egypt is investigating but has not yet accused any group of launching the attack.

Meanwhile an “unknown projectile” struck a tanker off the coast of Oman, a British maritime agency said on Saturday, as the United States and Iran vie for control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Kuwait’s army also said on Saturday it had detected and destroyed hostile drones in the country’s airspace since dawn, and that what it described as an Iranian attack had targeted several vital facilities.

A government facility in northern Kuwait and civilian property belonging to a company on Bubiyan Island were hit, it said, adding that falling shrapnel caused material damage but no casualties.

Iran has effectively maintained control over navigation through Hormuz since the outbreak of the war, requiring vessels to obtain permission and pay transit fees before using the waterway.

Maritime trade tracking firm Kpler said on Friday that traffic through the Hormuz strait has dropped “sharply”.

US Central Command (Centcom) said that as part of the naval blockade of Iranian ports, American forces have redirected 30 commercial vessels, boarded two and disabled two others.

Meanwhile, a merchant vessel safely passed through the Red Sea under the protection of the Italian frigate Bergamini, the European Union naval mission ASPIDES said on Saturday.

ASPIDES, the EU’s defensive maritime security operation in the Red Sea, did not identify the vessel or disclose its flag, ownership or cargo details.

Houthis deny plans to impose fees

Separately, Yemen’s Houthi-run maritime coordination body denied on Saturday that it planned to impose fees on commercial ships transiting the Bab al-Mandeb strait, saying no such decision had been taken and that passage through the strategic waterway remained free.

The Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) said its “safe transit service was a voluntary and cost-free service”.

“The HOCC categorically confirms that any individual or entity requesting the payment of money in exchange for transiting the Bab el-Mandeb strait does not represent the Republic of Yemen or HOCC in any capacity whatsoever,” it said in a statement.

“The HOCC urges shipping companies not to make any payments or provide any information to unauthorized individuals or entities,” it said.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2026

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MUZAFFARABAD: Polling for the second phase of elections to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly will be held on Sunday in nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division and all 12 constituencies reserved for Kashmiri refugees settled in Pakistan, where more than 340 candidates are contesting 21 seats.

According to the AJK Election Commission, 207 candidates are in the fray for the nine constituencies in Muzaffarabad division, comprising five seats in Muzaffarabad district and two each in Neelum and Jhelum Valley districts.

Another 137 candidates are contesting the 12 refugee constituencies, including six seats representing refugees from the Kashmir Valley and six from Jammu.

A total of 809,621 voters are registered in Muzaffarabad division, including 427,955 men and 381,666 women.

The 12 refugee constituencies have a combined electorate of 438,834, comprising 247,776 male and 191,054 female voters.

Internet services were suspended again on Friday, less than 45 hours after being restored, as part of efforts to discourage elements attempting to disrupt the election process. Official sources said the services were likely to be restored on Sunday.

However, the Election Commission made it clear that polling would be held as scheduled in all nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division and the 12 refugee constituencies.

It added that polling would continue from 8am to 5pm without a break.

Election material had been delivered to all polling stations in the 12 refugee constituencies, the commission said, adding that the distribution of polling material had also been completed in all constituencies of Neelum and Jhelum Valley districts, while the process had entered its final stage in the five constituencies of Muzaffarabad district.

Polling staff had also been dispatched to their respective polling stations under stringent security arrangements.

According to the commission, 1,483 polling stations have been established across Muzaffarabad division, of which 533 have been declared highly sensitive, 741 sensitive and 209 normal.

Another 1,057 polling stations have been set up for the 12 refugee constituencies.

It said all administrative and security arrangements had been completed and security personnel had already been deployed at polling stations to ensure the peaceful conduct of polling.

Separately, in a televised message to the public on the eve of polling, Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal urged voters to exercise their right to franchise, saying the vote was the only means through which citizens could choose a better future and capable leadership.

“There is no substitute for the vote, and every citizen should fulfil this national responsibility,” he said, adding that the vote was a trust that should be entrusted to an honest and competent candidate.

Mughal appealed to the electorate to participate wholeheartedly in the democratic process and demonstrate responsible citizenship. He said all arrangements had been finalised to ensure peaceful, transparent and fair elections.

During the first phase of elections in Mirpur division, the PML-N grabbed nine out of the 13 constituencies.

Polls in AJK are being held in three phases over security concerns, with the first set of polls held in Mirpur division on June 27. Scuffles, violence and allegations of rigging had marred the polling process, with the PML-N and PPP accusing each other of electoral malpractice.

According to preliminary results issued by the AJK Election Commission (Forms-27), the PML-N emerged as the winner in nine constituencies, while the PPP could secure only four seats.

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• Tarbela, Mangla levels continue to rise amid monsoon rains
• Medium-flood at Guddu and Sukkur barrages; Chenab may reach high-flood at Marala
• PDMA says 45 killed in Punjab

LAHORE: As the River Indus continues to flow at a medium flood level at Guddu and Sukkur barrages, water levels in the country’s major reservoirs — Tarbela and Mangla dams — have risen significantly over the past 15 days due to torrential rains in their catchment areas.

According to reports issued by the Water and Power Deve­lopment Authority (Wapda), the water level at Tarbela dam increased from 1,504.31 feet on July 16 to 1,537 feet on July 31, a rise of 32.69 feet. The reservoir is now just 13 feet below its maximum conservation level of 1,550 feet.

Also, the water level at Chashma Lake, which has a total capacity of 649 feet, rose to 648.50 feet on Friday from 646.80 feet on July 16.

Similarly, the water level at Mangla dam rose from 1,173.20 to 1,195.55 feet over the same period, while its maximum conservation level is 1,242 feet.

Officials attributed the rise in reservoir levels mainly to heavy rainfall in the catchment areas, although snowmelt also contributes significantly to filling Tarbela dam.

According to the Flood Fore­casting Division (FFD) of the Met Office, the River Indus at Sukkur would remain at a medium flood level, while flows at Guddu were expected to rec­ede from medium to low flood level over the next 24 hours.

It said the Jhelum, Ravi and Sutlej rivers were currently flowing below low flood level.

The FFD forecast that the Chenab at Marala, Khanki and Qadirabad would fluctuate between low and medium flood levels and could reach a high flood level at Marala during the forecast period.

“Medium to high flows are expected in the nullahs of the Jhelum, Chenab (Dora, Dotta, Dowara, Bhimber, Halsi, Aik and Palkhu) and Ravi (Bein, Basantar, Deg and Sakki).

Urban flooding

“Flash flooding is expected in the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan, streams in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern Balochistan, while urban flooding is expected in Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Sargo­dha, Mandi Bahauddin, Sial­kot, Gujrat, Narowal, Lahore, Okara, Sahiwal and Faisal­abad,” the FFD report said.

It also warned of urban flooding, waterlogging and prolonged ponding in Badin, Hyd­erabad, Jamshoro, Khair­pur, Matiari, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Shaheed Benazir­abad, Suja­wal, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tharparkar, Thatta and Umerkot.

According to Wapda’s daily water report issued on July 31, inflows and outflows at Tarbela on the Indus were 241,000 and 184,300 cusecs, respectively. At Mangla on the Jhelum, inflows were 45,100 cusecs and outflows 7,400 cusecs, while at Marala on the Chenab, inflows were 80,600 cusecs and outflows 66,500 cusecs.

Separately, the Provincial Disaster Management Auth­ority (PDMA) Punjab issued a fact sheet on the monsoon and flood situation in Punjab, covering rainfall, river and dam conditions, damage, relief measures and precautionary advice for the public.

Rainfall across Punjab

According to the PDMA spokesperson, rainfall during the past 24 hours included 75mm in Attock, 67mm in Sialkot, 56mm in Joha­rabad, 46mm in Lahore, 44mm in Sar­godha, 27mm in Khushab, 21mm in Murree, 17mm in Rawalpindi, 15mm in Narowal, and 7mm each in Chiniot and Mianwali.

The authority said advance planning, timely deployment of machinery and effe­ctive drainage operations enabled rainwater to be cleared quickly despite heavy rainfall, providing significant relief to residents. The spokesperson said the current spell of monsoon rains was expected to continue until Aug 5.

The PDMA, district administrations and other relevant agencies remain on high alert, with continuous monitoring of rivers, dams and barrages.

PDMA Director General Saif Anwar Jappa said there was a low flood situation at Kalabagh and Chashma on the River Indus. He said water storage stood at 85pc in Tarbela, 54pc in Mangla, 46pc in Thein dam, 40pc in Pong dam and 37pc in Bhakra dam.

According to the PDMA report, 45 people have died and 279 have been injured in rain-related incidents across Punjab during the current monsoon season. Of the fatalities, 33 were caused by the collapse of mud and dilapidated buildings, six by drowning, four by electrocution and two by lightning strikes.

Mr Jappa said the injured were being provided the best possible medical treatment and that affected families would be compensated in accordance with the Pun­jab government’s policy.

He urged citizens to take precautionary measures during the monsoon, not allow children to bathe in rain drains, low-lying areas, rivers or canals, and to contact the relevant authorities immediately in case of an emergency.

According to the PDMA, its control room is monitoring the situation round the clock to ensure a timely response to any emergency.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2026

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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that Pakistan welcomed developments under the Board of Peace towards implementing the disarmament process under the Gaza Peace Plan.

Earlier today, US President Donald Trump said talks in Cairo between mediators and Hamas leaders on Thursday have led to a phased disarmament agreement in Gaza, but a Hamas official described the deal as a draft and US officials said Israel was sceptical the Palestinian group would surrender its weapons.

“Today, the Board of Peace reached a HISTORIC agreement for the COMPLETE DISARMAMENT of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza,” Trump said in a social media post, adding that the disarmament would come in phases.

In a social media post on X, PM Shehbaz said, “Pakistan welcomes developments under the Board of Peace towards the implementation of the disarmament process under the Gaza Peace Plan.”

He emphasised that the mediating countries, including the United States of America, Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye, deserved “special appreciation for their efforts in achieving this progress”.

Commending President Trump’s “courageous leadership”, the premier said that this represented “a significant achievement for the Board of Peace”.

“Pakistan expresses the hope that with these developments, concrete steps will be taken towards implementing all commitments under the Gaza Peace Plan.

He concluded by expressing hope that these efforts would lead to the realisation of the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people through a credible and time-bound political process, in line with international legitimacy and relevant UN resolutions.

The prime minister added that this should result in the establishment of an independent, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

The board was initially proposed in September 2025 and formally established in January. Under its charter, the US government serves as its official depository and Trump has designated the Donald J Trump Institute of Peace in Washington as the Board’s headquarters.

A UN Security Council resolution adopted in mid-November last year authorised the board, along with cooperating states, to establish an international stabilisation force in Gaza following a ceasefire that began in October under a Trump-backed plan accepted by Israel and Hamas.

Pakistan is among the 14 countries that signed the charter of the Board of Peace on January 22 on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, becoming a founding member of the body.

The list of founding members also includes Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Albania, Bahrain, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cambodia, El Salvador, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Mongolia, Morocco, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam, spanning the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caucasus.

The board was originally conceived to oversee the ceasefire and reconstruction of Gaza, but its charter expands its mandate to peace-building in all areas affected by or at risk of conflict.

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ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday refused to recognise National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai as chairman of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) over the party’s failure to hold intra-party elections.

A full five-member bench of the commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the matter.

Two other cases related to the party were also fixed for hearing. It was learnt that not only Achakzai’s leadership but also certain “controversial” amendments made to the party’s constitution and PkMAP’s account details were under question.

At the initial hearing last week, the ECP bench had observed that a decision would first be made regarding the party’s counsel, Aimal Mandokhail. On Thursday, the chief election commissioner said an order would be issued regarding the power of attorney.

Raja made the remarks after asking the lawyer who had signed the power of attorney submitted to the commission.

Mandokhail replied that party chairman Achakzai had signed the document, but the chief election commissioner pointed out that there was currently no party head, as no intra-party election had been conducted so far.

He added that the power of attorney would be placed on record, but an order would be issued on whether or not it was acceptable.

Mandokhail has sought to represent the party in the three cases, but this is now subject to the ECP’s order on the power of attorney.

It was learnt that PkMAP had conducted intra-party elections on December 21, 2022, and since the term of office-bearers was fixed at three years, new elections were mandatory by December 21, 2025.

Raja said the commission had reminded the party to hold elections on October 1, 2025, and issued a show-cause notice on January 15, 2026. In response, the party sought a 180-day extension, which was granted.

However, a subsequent request for another 180-day extension was rejected, with the commission clarifying that intra-party elections must be completed by June 19, 2026, in any case. The party neither held the elections nor submitted a proper response to the ECP.

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KARACHI: The brother of imprisoned Uzair Baloch, chief of the defunct People’s Amn Committee, was shot and critically wounded in Karachi’s Lyari area on Thursday evening, according to police.

Chakiwara police, in a statement, said that Zubair Baloch, 40, was shot and injured on main Chakiwara Road, while two passersby were also injured. They were shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi.

South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Asad Raza told Dawn that Zubair had been arrested in seven criminal cases in 2012 and was released in January 2025.

He added that Zubair was sitting outside his residence in Singu Lane when armed suspects on a motorcycle opened fire on him and fled the scene.

Zubair sustained multiple injuries, including to his chest and abdomen, and was undergoing surgery. DIG Raza noted that one of the injured passersby was also in serious condition.

The DIG added that the police were investigating the incident from different angles, including gang rivalry and personal enmity.

A social activist from the area told Dawn, on the condition of anonymity, that Zubair had joined a “political party” a few months ago and had raised its flags in his area.

The activist also mentioned rumours in Lyari that some gangsters who had fled to Dubai and Iran after the Karachi operation had returned following the US-Iran war, and that residents were fearful of a possible resurgence of the past gang war in the area.

They added that the attackers had covered their faces and fled when a nearby shopkeeper returned fire.

Earlier in March, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) rejected bail applications of Uzair Baloch in seven cases pertaining to murder, police encounter and possession of explosives.

Uzair, along with others, had been charged with attacking law enforcers with firearms and explosives in 2012 within the jurisdiction of the Kalakot police station.

In April 2020, a military court had convicted Uzair Baloch of espionage and sentenced him to 12 years in jail.

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AFTER being forced to leave his home submerged in the waters of Bhed Nullah, Aslam and his family have come back to the flooded village in Ferozwala to pick up some clothes, bedding, and other essential items.

A large number of people, including his relatives, moved to higher ground and other cities after the nullah breached its bank and inundated villages along the GT Road.

“Flooding in Bhed Nullah has always ruined our houses and farmland, throwing our life out of gear,” Aslam, a resident of Rahim Colony, told Dawn while walking beside a railway track towards his flooded house to pick up clothes.

They had to vacate their houses after the floodwater suddenly entered their village, he said, adding that they left everything behind because there was no time to prepare.

Several villages along the Lahore-Gujranwala tract of GT Road have been fully submerged after nearby nullahs overflowed

For Aslam, life had been difficult before the floods, but he fears more hardships in the near future, especially after authorities predicted another monsoon spell would swell the eastern rivers and their tributaries.

His house is among scores of inundated brick houses, surrounded by floodwaters from Bhed Nullah.

As he and his family waded through the water to reach their home for clothes and other basic items, Aslam regretted that they had not received any help from the government so far.

‘Water everywhere’

Like Aslam, many others had to leave their homes after water inundated villages and agricultural land in Ferozwala – a tehsil in Sheikhupura along the Lahore-Gujranwala tract of the GT Road.

Maqsood Ali, a local worker, moved his family to Lahore after water from the overflowing nullah entered his village.

“Today, I have come to see if the water level has gone down,” he said, but quickly added that the situation was not good. “Our houses are underwater since there is water everywhere.”

The Bhed Nullah submerged other localities as well, including Pathan Colony where most houses are under several feet of water. Dawn witnessed several people leaving their houses in rescue boats and moving towards safer places with the help of rescue officials.

“We have left our house in Bhullay village and sent our family to relatives temporarily,” Ramzan told Dawn, with his gaze fixed on the floodwaters. “Most homes in Pathan Colony are under four to five feet of water — some are even worse,” another resident said in an equally despondent tone.

Nullahs like Bhed, Main Deg, Nikki Dege, and Main Hussri originate in Kashmir and pass through rural and semi-urban localities of Punjab before merging with various rivers, particularly the River Ravi. Earlier this month, these swollen streams wreaked havoc on areas situated along their banks.

Swollen nullahs

According to Punjab irrigation officials, the devastation occurred because these nullahs overflowed as a result of frequent rains over the last week. Some of the areas affected by these nullahs included Pathan Colony, Rahim Colony, Bhullay village, and Forest Park, among others. For instance, Deg Nullah, with a capacity of 19,361 cusecs, was flowing at 20,900 cusecs on Tuesday.

The officials blamed the residents of Pathan Colony for the destruction caused in their area by Bhed Nullah. They alleged that the locals stopped their team from strengthening the embankment of the nullah and instead made a “big cut” in the embankment so that the floodwater could “enter other localities”.

The official did not share any evidence. In a separate incident, he alleged, the residents held a protest on GT Road and also pelted the official team with stones and forced them to leave the area.

Residents rejected these allegations, questioning how the villagers could breach such a big embankment on their own. “It is surprising to hear this. The breach in the nullah occurred naturally, because there was too much water,” they said, adding that they held a protest after two teenagers drowned in the Bhed and there was no help for their rescue.

The Sheikhupura deputy commissioner and the Lahore commissioner were not available to respond to these claims.

Gujranwala villages submerged

Villages in Kamoki, Gujranwala, also faced devastation after Hussri Drain and Nullah Deg overflowed their banks and entered settlements.

“Nullah Deg submerged our village Nangal Essa following two breaches. We are in great trouble,” said Muzzamil, a resident. “We want the government to immediately plug these breaches to prevent further destruction,” he requested.

As floods force people to relocate, Rescue 1122 and some relief bodies have set up camps at the GT Road in Ferozwala to assist the victims. “We are rescuing hundreds of people daily and shifting them to safe places (camps) on the GT Road,” said Waqas Ahmad, a rescue official.

“Our core objective is to rescue the people first and nothing more.” Those being rescued were being given meals and other essentials at these camps. “We are giving them warm food…besides other items,” a camp in charge said about facilities at one of the camps.

In the north, Sialkot district fared a little better but still faced floods in its villages. The affected settlements included Garar Baryar, Gagay, Sokan Wind, Pajokey, Uddo Fateh, Mokhal and Nand Pur. For now, the city is safe, said Sialkot DC Awais Mushtaq.

“In Pasrur and Daska, some areas were affected due to inundation by Aik Nullah. Daska is our tehsil where 200mm of rain occurred, leading to urban flooding.”

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2026

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