Latest news with #AbdulGhaffar
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Five AVLC cops held for kidnapping
Malir Cantt police raided the Anti-Vehicle Lifting Cell (AVLC) office in Khawaja Ajmer Nagri, rescuing an abductee and arresting five AVLC personnel, including a sub-inspector. Reportedly, the victim, Madad Ali, had gone missing from near his residence in Bilawal Jokhio Goth. After failing to locate him, his family registered a complaint at the police station. Then, acting on intelligence, police raided the AVLC office and recovered Madad Ali, who had been detained on the station's rooftop for three days. The arrested personnel were identified as Constables Abdul Ghaffar, Riyaz, Khalid, Naeem, and Sub-Inspector Rashid Ali. They allegedly demanded a ransom of Rs500,000 from the victim's family for his release. Another individual reportedly involved was also taken into custody. During interrogation, the officers confessed to keeping the victim in illegal detention and attempting to extort ransom money. Further investigations are ongoing.
Express Tribune
17-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Cyber gang defrauding foreigners busted
The intelligence agencies and the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Multan, have arrested 14 operatives of a 21-member gang involved in online fraud with people living abroad. According to officials, the gang was involved in defrauding people overseas and extorting money from them. They said a global cybercrime network operating from Pakistan had been busted during the operation. Sources said the united Sates Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Dutch police had identified the 'HeartSender Group' of fraudsters operating from Pakistan in a joint operation, after which dozens of websites had been blocked. The NCCIA had assigned the responsibility of looking into the case to the team in Multan. A team led by Additional Director Abdul Ghaffar has arrested 14 members of the 21-member gang. Of the suspects, six were arrested from Lahore and eight others from Multan. The sources said that the gang leader, Ramiz Shahzad (HeartSender), and his group were involved in fraud of millions of dollars with foreign citizens, including US nationals. The ringleader belongs to the Fatehpur area in Layyah and had a network operating in Lahore as well as Sabzazar Colony in Multan. The authorities carried out raids on four houses of the gang in Lahore and seized a huge quantity of digital material. The arrested suspects include Muhammad Aslam, Adeel Aziz, Osama Nawaz, Abdul Moeez and Shoaib Nazir. The sources said raids were being conducted to arrest one of the prime suspects, Hasnain Raza, who had fled. Mobile phones, laptops and data storage devices were seized from the possession of the arrested members of the gang. A case has been registered against the arrested suspects under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 and various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The investigators have found that the gang leader, Ramiz Shahzad, had frequently travelled to Abu Dhabi and details of his travel record have also been obtained. Valuable vehicles and other assets worth millions of rupees of the suspects have also been confiscated and their travel abroad has been banned by placing their names on he Exit Control List (ECL). The arrested suspects were presented in a court, which handed over all of them to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) authorities for seven days on physical remand.
Arab News
05-03-2025
- Climate
- Arab News
Mild Ramadan weather ushers in cool comforts
RIYADH: Ramadan is being observed in March during the winter season in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the northern hemisphere for the first time in many years. The mild weather is ushering in cool comforts for fasting Muslims, making it a pleasant experience for them compared to recent years, when the faithful have endured the challenge of fasting during long, hot days at the peak of the summer season. 'After long (spells) of having Ramadan in summer, now being observed in winter for the first time in many years, and fasting during (these) cold days has made the experience considerably comfortable and pleasant,' said Abdul Ghaffar, an expat who has been living in the Kingdom for the past 25 years working as a senior consultant in talent development. Although last year had pleasant weather for much of the month, prior to that Muslims had endured the challenge of fasting during long, hot days at the peak of summer, he said. 'The shorter winter days significantly reduce the fasting hours, allowing us to break our fast a bit earlier and relief from the scorching sunshine in the summer,' said Abdullah Ahmed, a university student in Riyadh. 'This pleasant weather is a welcome change, as it lightens the physical burden of fasting. Also, the cool weather enables engaging in outdoor activities during the day as well as after the iftar,' he added. Iffat Aabroo, a homemaker in Riyadh, echoed the view on fasting in winter season: 'The lower mercury level of below 20 degree Celsius maximum temperature during the last week and varying between 19 to 27 degree Celsius maximum and 7 to 15 degree Celsius minimum this week, and shorter days, ease the fasting. 'It's common to feel thirsty when fasting for long hours during the intense summer heat, and it's important, as medically advised, to take the necessary precautions to stay hydrated when fasting, but it's easy to fast during winter and do don't feel thirsty like the summer,' she said. Javed Hasan, a taxi driver in the capital, said: 'It made fasting easy, particularly for those of us who cannot always stop for iftar due to the nature of our work. 'To be on the streets to pick and drop people from one place to another is much easier these days as opposed to the hot summer season. 'The pleasant weather not only makes fasting less daunting but also improves our overall well-being, making the spiritual journey more engaging and fruitful,' he added. Counting on many advantages — both in spiritual upliftment and social engagement — when Ramadan is observed in winter, Shahid Anwar, an Indian expat who works as a safety manager in Riyadh, said: 'To be on the working site while fasting now in winter is much easier. 'The confluence of spiritual reflection and favorable weather makes Ramadan a uniquely enjoyable experience,' he added. 'The nights are particularly lively, with traditional decorations and treats drawing more people outdoors than in the hotter days during the summer.' With milder temperatures, many community organizations are arranging outdoor iftars, enhancing community dining experiences for families and friends, he said. A cold wave gripping several parts of the northern border region last week froze a decorative fountain in Rafha governorate. Viral photos on social media showed the fountain covered in ice as temperatures plunged below zero degrees. The severe drop in temperature, recorded at -2 degrees Celsius in Rafha, caused water to freeze in open areas and frost to form on trees and green spaces, while temperatures in Turaif plummeted to -4 degrees Celsius, leading to frozen water surfaces and layers of snow on ponds and basins, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Turaif, known for its harsh winters, frequently experiences frost and snow due to polar air masses moving south from Europe. With a significant temperature drop marking Ramadan's arrival in the Northern Borders region, Turaif on Monday recorded 1 degree Celsius, and Arar dipped below 4, according to the National Center for Meteorology. This cold snap, expected to persist mid-month, evokes memories of Ramadan's winter seasons three decades ago, with residents recalling iftar cannons in the chilly air in the 1990s.
Arab News
07-02-2025
- Climate
- Arab News
Water freezes as polar wave grips Tabuk, northern region experiences chilly spell
RIYADH: The Tabuk region in northwestern Saudi Arabia experienced a sharp drop in temperatures with the mercury level nosediving to below zero in the early hours on Friday, particularly in open desert areas, where ice formed on water ponds and basins. The phenomenon underscores the impact of the polar wave on the region, which often faces harsh cold waves during winter due to polar air masses from northern Europe. Consequently, temperatures have significantly dropped to the sub-zero with the winter landscapes continuing to be an integral aspect of the seasonal character of the Tabuk region. The National Center for Meteorology has forecast cold to very cold temperatures in the Northern Borders, Al-Jouf, Hail, and Tabuk regions, as well as the northern parts of Madinah region, with a possibility of frost in some of these regions. The NCM has also predicted the possibility of fog formation in parts of Jazan, Aseer, Al-Baha and Makkah regions. An intense sandstorm engulfed several areas in Saudi Arabia on Friday as the NCM had forecast, dust-stirring winds with low temperatures in the Qassim, Riyadh, and Eastern regions as well as parts of Najran. The sandstorm gripped Riyadh, enveloping the Saudi capital's skyline with gray haze on Friday morning, hampering visibility due to the widespread dust, and forcing authorities to issue a weather warning. The traffic department has advised motorists to drive slowly and exercise restraint. A speeding BMW car was seen upturned after it rammed into a roadside fence near Takhassusi Street on Makkah road on Friday afternoon. Riyadh police rushed to the site and were seen providing assistance. The General Directorate of Civil Defense has advised residents to avoid going to outskirt spots to avoid accidents during the sandstorm. Abdul Ghaffar, a Riyadh resident, told Arab News: 'Friday being (the) weekend, we had an outing plan with family for a barbeque party at Wadi Namar, but the sandstorm that enveloped the city and its outskirts in gray haze this morning has forced us to change the plan, and we decided to remain indoors instead.'
