ISLAMABAD, JUN 14 (DNA) — One person was killed, while five others, including women and children, were seriously injured after being hit by Baba Farid Express on Friday. According to a private news channel, the accident occurred due to the absence of gates on the 67EB track.

According to railway police, Mohammad Nawaz, a resident of 16 KB, was returning from Borewala with his family when his car got stuck on the railway track while crossing the railway line at 67 EB and was hit by the Baba Farid Express.

As a result of the accident, the car driver, Mohammad Nawaz, died on the spot, while family members Zainab, Tahira, Saira, and 7-year-old Noor were seriously injured.The rescue team reached the spot and removed the dead body and the injured women and children from the vehicle and shifted to THQ Hospital Arifwala. The railway police started the investigation. — DNA

ISLAMABAD, JUN 14 /DNA/ – In the evolving global landscape, the Global South has an opportunity to consolidate its influence and recognition as a unified force in international development. By embracing shared principles like mutual respect, collaborative governance, and inclusive development, these nations can effectively tackle challenges, navigate complexities, and contribute to a more sustainable global order.

This was observed by speakers during a panel discussion on ‘The New International Order as an Opportunity for the Development of the Global South,’ held at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad, as a part of the 2nd International Scientific Conference on ‘New World Order: in statu nascendi.’

The conference was co-organized by the Institute of Political Science University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland, and the Department of International Relations, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST). The two-day conference convened distinguished scholars, policymakers, and experts from across the globe to deliberate on the transformative dynamics shaping the new world order.

The discussion, chaired by Khalid Rahman, chairman IPS, was addressed by Dr Safdar Sohail, executive director, Social Protection Resource Centre, Dr Syed Tahir Hijazi, economist and former member Planning Commission, Brigadier (r) Said Nazir, security and defense analyst, and Dr Du Fang, associate professor, Sichuan University, China, while Dr Azhar Ahmad, IPS associate, moderated the discussion.

Dr Safdar said achieving social stability is necessary for positive global participation in the developing world order. He identified four stages of social development – family, society, social mobility, and interstate social development and noted that Pakistan, in between the first and second stages, must resolve its social instability and governance issues.

The need for this stability is exacerbated by the persistence of military alliances, war threats, and the influence of military-industrial complexes on global security frameworks, noted Brig Said. He urged UN reforms and a global union to address conflicts, emphasizing debt relief, climate change financing, and positive competition from the Global South. He concluded that the UN must ensure world peace or rely on the proliferation of nuclear deterrence to safeguard the peace, urging global cooperation and effective governance.

Adding to this, Dr Tahir highlighted the alarming trend in the emerging world order where MNCs are exerting influence greater than states themselves. He critiqued institutions like the IMF and World Bank for indebting nations worldwide, which has facilitated the power dynamics favoring MNCs. He emphasized that this century’s order would be defined by corporate interests and power and thus Global South must be proactive.

In this regard, China’s commitment to fostering a balanced global order underpins its imperative of inclusive development, said Dr Du Fang. This is prominent within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which China envisions as a multilateral mechanism for peace without advocating military hegemony.

In his concluding remarks, Khalid Rahman noted that the current phase of Global South evolution is based on amelioration and active agency. China’s role in this context, particularly its paradigm of development centered on a ‘shared destiny,’ is an opportunity for the Global South to rise collectively. However, he acknowledged several challenges: the diversity within the Global South, the probability of a shift towards self-interest among leading Global South countries, security concerns, and the Western domination of IT technology. For that, he stressed the importance of focusing on overarching paradigms rather than minor issues to address these challenges effectively.

ISLAMABAD, Jun 14 (APP): Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Friday forecast wind and thunderstorm and rains for various parts of the country from June 18 (evening/night) which is the second day of Eid-ul-Azha.

The moist currents from Arabian sea are likely to penetrate upper and central parts of the country from June 18.

A shallow westerly wave was also likely to approach western parts of the country on June 18.

Thunderstorm-rain is expected in Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir on Friday (evening/night)/Saturday morning.
Hot and dry weather is likely in Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir on June 16 and 17.

Rain-wind/thunderstorm is expected in Gilgit-Baltistan (Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar), Kashmir (Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur) from June 18-22 with occasional gaps.

Few heavy falls are also likely in Kashmir during the period.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, thunderstorm-rain is expected in Dir, Swat, Malakand, Bajaur, Kohistan, Chitral, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, Hangu, Kurram and Waziristan on Friday (evening/night), Saturday morning.

Very hot and dry weather is likely in southern parts of the province from June 16-18.

Rain-wind and thunderstorm is expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Malakand, Kohat, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Peshawar, Mardan, Kurram, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan
and Waziristan from June 18 (night) to June 22 with occasional gaps.

In Punjab and Islamabad, dust and thunderstorm-rain is expected in Murree, Galliyat, Rawalpindi, Bhakkar, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Okara, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Lahore, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Wazirabad, Sialkot, Narowal,
Gujranwala on Friday (evening/night) and Saturday morning.
Very hot and dry weather is likely in most parts of the province from June 16-18.

Rain-wind, thundershower and dust storm (with few heavyfalls) is expected in Islamabad,Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Khushab, Sargodha, Bhakkar and Mianwali from June 18 (evening/night) to June 22 with occasional gaps.

Rain-wind, thundershower and duststorm is also expected in Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sahiwal, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rahimyar Khan and Layyah from June 20 to 22.

In Balochistan, very hot and dry weather is likely in most parts of the province from June 16-18.

Duststorm and thunderstorm with rain is expected in Quetta, Zhob, Kohlu, Musakhel, Loralai, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Dera Bugti and Barkhan from June 20-22.

In Sindh, very hot and dry weather is likely in most parts of the province from June 17 to 20.

Dust storm and gusty winds with isolated rain-thunderstorm is expected in Sukkur, Jacobabad, Kashmore and Larkana on June 21 and June 22.

About the possible impacts, the PMD said that dust storm and windstorm and lightning might affect daily routines, loose structures like electric poles, vehicles and solar panels etc during the period.

Very hot weather conditions are likely to subside from June 19 to 22.

All concerned authorities are advised to remain alert and take necessary measures to avoid any untoward situation.

MUZAFFARABAD, JUN 14: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) High Court Friday granted bail to poet Ahmed Farhad weeks after his arrest.

The poet’s bail petition was approved against a surety bond worth Rs200,000.

Earlier this week, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had declared Farhad as a “missing person” until he returned back to his home and termed his arrest “illegal”.

The court’s order read that the poet was missing since May 15 and couldn’t reach home, while a first information report (FIR) regarding his disappearance was registered with the Lohebher Police Station in Islamabad under Section 427 and 365 PPC.

As per the order, the court was told that Farhad Ali was arrested by Police Station Dherkot Kashmir and was also wanted by the Saddar Police Station Muzaffarabad in another case of terrorism.

It added that in above circumstances the person couldn’t be produced before the bench. Therefore, the court reached a conclusion that he was forcibly disappeared and the institution concerned failed to recover him.

The court, in its order, mentioned that Farhad was currently in judicial custody, as per the investigation officer, and declared his arrest “illegal”.

The court stated that the investigation officer of Lohebher Police Station was bound to record the poet’s statement under Section-164 before a judicial magistrate after his return and proceed the investigation in light of his statement.

Farhad, a defiant poet from Kashmir, remained missing for 15 days last month after which Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan revealed that he was, in fact, arrested and in AJK police’s custody. The AGP’s statement came on May 29, in response to IHC’s directions to ensure Farhad’s recovery.

The poet was arrested and transferred to Muzaffarabad from DhirKot under multiple sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

His matter came into the spotlight after he allegedly went missing during protests in AJK in May following which his wife, Urooj Zainab, moved the IHC seeking her husband’s recovery, requesting the court to identify, investigate, and prosecute those responsible for his disappearance.