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LAHORE: Former Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said Sunday that ex-prime minister Shehbaz Sharif will leave for London from Lahore today (Sunday) to meet with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Aurangzeb wrote: “Former Prime Minister and President of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Mr Shehbaz Sharif will leave for London from Lahore today. During his stay in London, Mr Shehbaz Sharif will also meet the party leader Mr Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.”

According to The News, the delegation is likely to include other senior party leaders as well.

The visit comes amid speculation that Nawaz Sharif may be returning to Pakistan soon.

PML-N Lahore President Saiful Mulok Khokhar confirmed that he and Faisal Saif Khokhar were scheduled to board a flight to London on Sunday. He said that the delegation would meet with Nawaz and discuss the party’s future plans.

The visit is likely to be closely watched by political observers, as it could provide clues about Nawaz’s intentions.

If he does return to Pakistan, it would be a major boost for the PML-N ahead of general polls.

Party sources said Nawaz has summoned the local leaders to London where all formalities for return to Pakistan will be discussed. Party sources claimed that Nawaz planned to return to Pakistan in the middle of September 2023.

They said the legal wizards of the party were also scheduled to reach London to brief the PML-N’s head about legal issues for his return. Khokhar, while talking to this scribe, said that he would meet Nawaz in London and finalise arrangements for his welcome reception.

About the exact date of return, he said this will be decided by the party chief himself.

Meanwhile, Shehbaz visited the residence of Atta Tarar, Deputy Secretary General of the party, and met his parents and members of his family.

He paid tribute to the services of former President Rafiq Tarar for Pakistan and the nation and commended Tarar for his services to the party and country during the 16-month premiership period.

Suspected North Korean hackers have attempted an attack targeting a major joint military exercise between Seoul and Washington that starts on Monday, South Korean police said.

South Korea and the United States will kick off the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield drills on Monday through August 31 to counter growing threats from the nuclear-armed North.

Pyongyang views such exercises as rehearsals for an invasion and has repeatedly warned it would take “overwhelming” action in response.

The hackers — believed to be linked to a North Korean group dubbed Kimsuky — carried out “continuous malicious email attacks” on South Korean contractors working at the allies’ combined exercise war simulation centre, the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency said in a statement on Sunday.

“Police investigation confirms that North Korean hacking group was responsible for the attack,” it said in a statement, adding that military-related information was not stolen.

A joint investigation by the police and the US military found that the IP address used in the latest attack matched one identified in a 2014 hack against South Korea’s nuclear reactor operator blamed on the group, according to the statement.

The Kimsuky hackers use “spearphishing” tactics — sending malicious attachments embedded in emails — to exfiltrate desired information from victims.

According to findings by the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in 2020, Kimsuky is “most likely tasked by the North Korean regime with a global intelligence gathering mission.”

The group — believed to be active since 2012 — targets individuals and organisations in South Korea, Japan, and the United States, focusing on foreign policy and national security issues related to the Korean peninsula, nuclear policy, and sanctions, it added.

There is also a chance of some warm weather with temperatures above average, particularly in the South and South East.

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However, there is also the potential for some showers, thunderstorms, and some longer spells of rain at times.

Storm Betty brings heavy rain and winds

Storm Betty, the second named storm of the month, brought heavy rain and high winds to the UK on Friday night. Winds reached 66mph across North Wales.

The Met Office had warned that more than half a month’s rain was expected to fall on Friday.

Sunday

The weather is looking up for many on Sunday with warm sunshine.

There will be a few showers in the West and there could be heavy rain for Northern Ireland and Scotland later on in the day with blustery winds for north-west Scotland.

Monday to Wednesday

The forecast is for a North West/South East split in the weather from Monday to Wednesday.

The North West is likely to have longer spells of rain and wind. While the South East can expect warm sunny spells albeit with some gentle winds.

Why is it raining so much this summer?

According to Met Office spokesperson Oli Claydon, the “unsettled nature” of the weather this summer has been caused by the jet stream bringing low pressure across the Atlantic to the UK.

Heatwave on cards?

According to the Met Office’s long-range forecast, which runs from August 24 to September 1, a heatwave is not likely any time soon.

However, there will be some warm weather with temperatures above average, particularly in the South and South East.

What do forecasters say?

Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern has suggested this summer has been in three acts and the final act may be a disappointment for some.

He said that the first act was June, which was the hottest June on record.

The second act was July, which was slightly below average as far as temperatures were concerned, but well above average as far as the rainfall was concerned.

The third act, he said, is likely to be a bit more typical for the UK with warm, longer, drier spells, perhaps, but also the potential for some showers, some thunderstorms, and some longer spells of rain at times as well.

He added that forecasting models for next week had changed but temperatures could be a bit warmer than average for parts of the South and South East with temperatures forecast to hit the high 20s.

 

ISLAMABAD: A day after the caretaker cabinet was sworn in, Interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar reshuffled the senior bureaucracy, The News reported on Saturday.

After PM Kakar’s nod, the Establishment Division (ED) issued a notification to transfer chief secretaries of Sindh, Balochistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the federal interior secretary and Cabinet Division secretary and Islamabad chief commissioner and several other members of the bureaucracy at the senior level.

Furthermore, other transfers in the bureaucracy are expected in the next couple of days.

Amidst the new transfers and postings, Kamran Ali Afzal, a BPS-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), currently posted as director general Civil Services Academy, has been appointed as Cabinet Division secretary, according to ED’s notification.

Secretary Water Resources Nasir Jamy, a BPS-22 officer of PAS, is now posted as secretary Information Technology and Telecommunication Division. Shakeel Khan Bangash, a BPS-22 officer of PAS, who was an OSD [officer on special duty], is posted as secretary Housing and Works Division.

Secretary Housing and Works Muhammad Fakhar Alam Irfan, a BPS-22 officer of PAS, has been given the prestigious post of chief secretary Sindh. He would replace Muhammad Sohail Rajput, another BPS-22 officer of PAS, who has been directed to report to the Establishment Division. Syed Asif Ali Hyder Shah, a BPS-22 officer of PAS, who was also an OSD, has been appointed as secretary Climate Change Division, the communiqué stated.

Allah Dino Khawaja, a BPS-22 officer of the Police Service, who was commandant National Police Academy, is now appointed as secretary Human Rights Division, whereas Humaira Ahmad, a BPS-22 officer of PAS, who was awaiting posting at the Establishment Division, has been posted as secretary National Heritage and Culture Division.

Secretary Interior Syed Ali Murtaza, a BPS-22 officer of PAS, has also been transferred and posted as secretary Water Resources. Muhammad Abdullah Sumbal, a BPS-21 officer, who previously was acting as additional secretary (In-charge) Science and Technology, has been posted as additional secretary (In-charge) Interior Division.

The notification further added that Additional Secretary Power Division Shakeel Qadir Khan, a BPS-21 officer of PAS, has been appointed as chief secretary Balochistan. He would replace a BS-22 officer of PAS Abdul Aziz Uqaili, who would report to the Establishment Division.

Moreover, Captain (retd) Anwarul Haq, a BPS-20 officer of PAS, who was a member environment in the Capital Development Authority (CDA), has been appointed chief commissioner Islamabad. He would replace Captain (retd) Noorul Amin Mengal and by virtue of the CDA Ordinance, he would also hold charge of the CDA chairmanship.

Noorul Amin Mengal, who took over as chief commissioner Islamabad and the CDA chairman in January last, has been directed to report to the Establishment Division. Secretary Human Rights Division Ali Raza Bhutta, a BPS-22 officer of PAS, will now assume his duties as secretary Science and Technology Division.

Furthermore, the notification stated that Special Secretary Prime Minister’s Office Sarah Saeed, a BPS-22 officer of PAS, is now posted as secretary Commerce Division with immediate effect. The services of additional secretary Planning Dawood Muhammad Bareach, a BPS-21 officer of PAS, have been placed at the disposal of the AJK government for further appointment as chief secretary Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Chief Secretary Azad Jammu and Kashmir Muhammad Usman Chachar, BPS-22 officer of PAS, has also been transferred and asked to report to the Establishment Division. Two BPS-22 officers of PAS Special Secretary Cabinet Division Eazzaz Aslam Dar and secretary Information Technology and Telecommunication, Navid Ahmed Shaikh, have been directed to report to the Establishment Division.

Iram Anjum Khan, a BPS-22 officer of the Pakistan Audit and Accounts Service (PAAS), who was additional Auditor General-I, has been appointed as secretary Maritime Affairs. He would replace Abdul Ghufran Memon, another BPS-22 officer of the same service group. Secretary National Heritage and Culture Division Fareen Mazhara, BPS-22 officer of Inland Service, has been directed to report to the Establishment Division.

Additional secretary (In-charge) Petroleum Captain (retd) Muhammad Mahmood has been appointed additional secretary (In-charge) National Food Security. Momin Agha, BPS-21 officer of PAS, who was additional secretary (In-charge) Industries and Production, would replace him in Petroleum Division.

Director General Immigration and Passports Yawar Hussain, a BPS-20 officer of PAS, has also been transferred and directed to report to the Establishment Division. Additional secretary (In-charge) Climate Change Division Musaddiq Ahmed Khan, a BPS-21 officer of PAS, has also been directed to report to the Establishment Division, according to the ED’s notification.

North Korea on Saturday lashed out at the UN for accusing the Pyongyang regime of widespread systematic human rights violations and called North Korean defectors who had escaped from hardships “human scum”, according to state media.

The name-calling came after the nuclear-armed state was held accountable at the UN Security Council meeting on Thursday for spending heavily on its nuclear arms program while its people go hungry and lack basic necessities.

Ilhyeok Kim, a North Korean defector, told the council that he had been forced at a young age to work in fields without compensation, and that the grain they grew all went to the military.

“The government turns our blood and sweat into a luxurious life for the leadership and missiles that blast our hard work into the sky,” he said.

“The money spent on just one missile could feed us for three months.”

But the meeting was an “insult and infringement” to the spirit of he UN Charter, an unnamed spokesman of the Korea Association for Human Rights Studies said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency.

Pyongyang “strongly denounces and rejects the UNSC for having haggled about the human rights situation in an individual country,” the spokesman said.

“The DPRK people know well about their human rights situation and they make a right appraisal of it by themselves,” they added, referring to the North by its official name.

The North Korean defectors are “human scum, who fled after abandoning their homeland and parents, wives and children only to save their dirty lives,” the official said.

The hearing, requested by the United States, was the first in the Security Council on human rights in North Korea in six years, and came as Pyongyang has sped up its testing of nuclear-capable missiles in the past year, heightening tensions across East Asia.

No delegates from Pyongyang were present at the hearing.

China launched military drills around Taiwan on Saturday as a “stern warning” after voicing anger over a stopover in the United States by the island’s vice president, William Lai.

Lai, who is the frontrunner in Taiwan’s presidential election next year, stopped in New York and returned via San Francisco on a trip to Paraguay, one of a dwindling number of nations that diplomatically recognise Taipei.

China on Saturday called Lai a “troublemaker” and vowed to take “resolute measures… to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

The Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army “launched joint air and sea patrols and military exercises of the navy and air force around the island of Taiwan” on Saturday, state media outlet Xinhua quoted military spokesperson Shi Yi as saying.

Xinhua said the drills, the scale of which was not immediately known, were meant to test the PLA’s ability “to seize control of air and sea spaces” and fight “in real combat conditions”.

They were also intended to serve as “a stern warning to the collusion of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists with foreign elements and their provocations”, it added.

Taiwan on Saturday said it strongly condemned “such irrational and provocative behaviour” and said it would dispatch “appropriate forces” to respond “with practical actions”.

“Conducting a military exercise this time under a pretext not only does not help the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, but also highlights (China’s) militaristic mentality and confirms the hegemonic nature of its military expansion,” Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence said in a statement.

– ‘New provocative move’ –

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has pledged to take it one day, by force if necessary.

It launched major military exercises after Nancy Pelosi, then House speaker, visited Taiwan last year and later when President Tsai Ing-wen met top US lawmakers as she transited through the United States.

Washington had called for calm over Lai’s transit, describing the travel as routine.

But on Saturday, an official from the ruling Communist Party’s Taiwan Work Office “strongly condemned” Lai’s trip, calling it a “new provocative move” by his party, the DPP, “to further collude with the United States”, Xinhua said.

“Lai’s latest ‘stopover’… was a disguise he used to sell out the interests of Taiwan in order to seek gains in the local election through dishonest moves,” the official was quoted as saying.

“Lai’s deeds have proven that he is an out-and-out troublemaker who will push Taiwan to the dangerous brink of war and bring deep troubles to Taiwan compatriots”, the readout continued.

At a lunch in New York during the trip, Lai vowed “to resist annexation” and continue to uphold the core tenets of Tsai’s administration.

Lai has been far more outspoken about independence than Tsai, to whom Beijing is already hostile as she refuses to accept its view that Taiwan is a part of China.

The Harvard-educated doctor turned politician has previously described himself as a “pragmatic Taiwan independence worker”.