Category: Others

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  • Gandhi’s ashes stolen, memorial vandalised on 150th birthday

    Gandhi’s ashes stolen, memorial vandalised on 150th birthday

    Some of the remains of India’s founding father, Mahatma Gandhi, were stolen on his 150th birth anniversary, a BBC report quoted local police as saying.

    According to the report, the ashes were stolen from the memorial where they had been kept since 1948 — the year of Gandhi’s assassination by a Hindu extremist.

    The thieves also defaced his photographs by scrawling “traitor” in green paint all over them. Some Hindu hardliners view Gandhi as a traitor for his advocacy of Hindu-Muslim unity.

    This is despite Gandhi being a devout Hindu himself.

    Madhya Pradesh Police confirmed to BBC Hindi that they were investigating the theft on the grounds of actions “prejudicial to national integration” and potential breach of peace.

    Mangaldeep Tiwari, caretaker of the Bapu Bhawan memorial, where the ashes were being held, said the theft was “shameful”.

    “I opened the gate of the Bhawan early in the morning because it was Gandhi’s birthday,” he told an Indian media outlet. “When I returned at around 11 pm, I found the mortal remains of Gandhi missing and his poster was defaced.”

  • ‘Drug tests to be made mandatory for teachers, students in Islamabad’

    ‘Drug tests to be made mandatory for teachers, students in Islamabad’

    Minister of State for Narcotics Control Shehryar Afridi has said that the government is planning to make drug tests mandatory for school staff and students in Islamabad, The Express Tribune reported.

    According to the details, in a session of the Senate Standing Committee on Narcotics Control, Afridi asserted that no person responsible for propagating drugs to the youth would be spared, “even if they are members of the parliament”.

    He claimed that the government is working on legislation to punish the possession and distribution of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as crystal meth or ice and added that the ministry had collected data of “drug dealers and money launderers” from over 250 international law enforcement agencies.

    Narcotics Control  Secretary Amjad Javed Saleemi also informed the Senate panel that they are maintaining a record of criminal entities involved in narcotics trade, adding that the system helps track drug peddlers and their facilitators.

  • Heated argument mars Qureshi’s interview with Javed Chaudhry

    Heated argument mars Qureshi’s interview with Javed Chaudhry

    A heated argument marred Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s interview with journalist Javed Chaudhry during the latter’s television talk show, “Kal Tak”.

    The discussion turned into a spat when Qureshi was asked about the resolution that Pakistan was going to submit at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) against India on Kashmir.

    The minister said that it was not their plan to submit the resolution and were only monitoring the situation, adding that they “would not make any decision under pressure of social media or tweets”.

    “It was you [and your government] who were tweeting”, the journalist said in response, adding that even Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan had mentioned the UN resolution and 58 countries supporting Pakistan.

    Hearing this, FM Qureshi got riled up and demanded to see the tweets, printed copies of which were also presented to the minster.

    Agitated over Javed, Qureshi also said, “I still own it.” He further asked Javed Chaudhary, “Are you sitting here with a fixed agenda?”

    Earlier in a tweet, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and PM Imran had said that Pakistan got a historic joint statement on behalf of over 50 countries to the UN Human Rights Council.

    Qureshi, in the interview, however, appeared to be oblivious of the tweets made from his verified handle.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB9JD__xDhc

  • PEMRA bans PM Imran’s brother-in-law over ‘bogus’ claims against PTI senator

    On the recommendations of the Council of Complaints (CoC), Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has banned analyst Hafeezullah Niazi from appearing on any television channel for 30 days, Daily Times reported.

    According to the details, Niazi, who is also the brother-in-law of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, in a programme on Geo News on July 6 had levelled allegations against Senator Azam Swati, which could not be substantiated before the CoC.

    “PM Imran’s own relatives told that this man [Swati] was involved in the biggest insurance fraud in the United States (US) and he is banned from entering the country due to this,” the analyst had alleged.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    A press release issued by PEMRA in this regard said that Geo News had been provided “sufficient time” to “prove the veracity of comments uttered by the said analyst”, however, the channel could not come up with a satisfactory reply.

    The channel has been ordered to tender an apology within seven days for airing “baseless and defamatory” comments and violating PEMRA’s Electronic Media Code of Conduct.

    In case of non-compliance, it will be liable to pay a fine of Rs 1 million.

    Meanwhile, senior journalists and analysts have stood up in Niazi’s support, saying that bars on their colleagues “only exposes the government’s crackdown on freedom of expression”.

  • ‘You’re my hero’: South African golfer puts PM Imran next to Nelson Mandela

    ‘You’re my hero’: South African golfer puts PM Imran next to Nelson Mandela

    Hailing him as his hero, South African professional golfer Gary Player has appreciated Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for everything the latter is doing in his region.

    “I have been following your true leadership and I am so proud of you what you are doing in your region,” Gary said in a video message addressing PM Imran.

    He further said that his support will always be there for the premier. “God bless my friend, you are one of my heroes as Nelson Mandela.”

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Acknowledging massive challenges faced by PM Imran, Gary added that at least it would take another two years to get his message across. “May strength be with you,” the renowned golfer said while offering his best wishes.

  • Chinese state-owned power company interested in buying K-Electric

    Chinese state-owned power company interested in buying K-Electric

    China’s state-owned Shanghai Electric Power Company Limited (SEP) has once again renewed its interest to buy a majority stake in K-Electric (KE) from the Abraaj Group, Profit Pakistan has reported.

    According to the details, Shanghai Electric had agreed with Dubai-based Abraaj Group on acquiring a majority stake in K-Electric for $1.77 billion in October 2016.

    However, it has now become uncertain whether the business deal will still be executed at the agreed price or will be renegotiated.

    “K-Electric has received a fresh public announcement of intention from Shanghai Electric Power Company to acquire up to 66.04% voting shares in K-Electric Limited,” the company said in a notification to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday.

    K-Electric’s share price dropped 2.2%, or Rs0.08, to Rs3.55 with trading in 55.56 million shares at the PSX.

    The vertically integrated company posted a profit of Rs12.31 billion in the year ending June 30, 2018, up from Rs10.4 billion in the previous year.

  • Two killed as Indian military’s helicopter crashes in Bhutan

    Two killed as Indian military’s helicopter crashes in Bhutan

    An Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) Cheetah helicopter crashed in eastern Bhutan, killing two Bhutanese pilots on Friday, NDTV reported.

    According to the reports, the chopper belonged to Indian Army’s 667 Army Aviation Squadron based in the Indian state of Assam. The single-engine Cheetah Helicopter was en route to Yongphulla, Bhutan, when it crashed into a hill near Khentongmani.

    Indian Army Spokesperson Colonel Aman Anand said, “The helicopter went out of radio and visual contact soon after 1pm. The helicopter was on way from Khirmu (Arunanchal) to Yongphulla on duty”.

    The accident comes days after an Indian Air Force MiG-21 crashed near the Gwalior Air Force Base in Madhya Pradesh. The aircraft was on a routine training mission on Wednesday, September 25 when it crashed. Both pilots – a group captain and a squadron leader – managed to eject safely.

    According to the Indian Minister of State for Defence, Shripad Naik, Indian Air Force (IAF) had lost 27 aircraft, including 15 fighter jets and helicopters, in crashes since 2016.

  • VIDEO: Jahangir Tareen rescues sick British tourist in Gilgit on private helicopter

    VIDEO: Jahangir Tareen rescues sick British tourist in Gilgit on private helicopter

    Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secretary-general, disqualified Jahangir Khan Tareen, has flown a sick British tourist out of Fairy Meadows National Park in his private helicopter.

    Fairy Meadows, named by German climbers and locally known as Joot, is a grassland near one of the basecamp sites of Nanga Parbat, located in Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan.

    According to the details of the incident, a British tourist on Wednesday fell unconscious after her health deteriorated during a camping trip in Fairy Meadows. Tareen, who was also present in the area as part of his trip to Gilgit-Baltistan, brought the sick tourist back to the airport in his helicopter.

    The woman was later shifted to a nearby hospital while a video of the rescue has gone viral over the internet.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    FUEL FOR TAREEN’S CHARTERED FLIGHT:

    Meanwhile, Tareen’s trip to the country’s northernmost territory has been marred by controversy regarding the fuel for his chartered flight from Gilgit City to Skardu.

    In a letter addressed to the Skardu deputy commissioner (DC) by the general manager operations of Princely Jets — Pakistan’s first private charter jet operator — three barrels (600 litres) of JP-1 fuel have been requested for Tareen’s helicopter.

    https://twitter.com/Psfkami/status/1176870816199446528

    Even though the letter does not appear to be in violation of any rules, netizens argue the need for a private company’s general manager “to request acquisition of government fuel from an official for Tareen’s chartered flight”.

  • ISB: Sixth grader accidentally shot dead by school guard

    ISB: Sixth grader accidentally shot dead by school guard

    A sixth grade boy was killed outside his school in Islamabad after a security guard accidentally shot him.

    The incident took place on Wednesday outside a private school in Nilore, Islamabad.

    The guard was cleaning his gun and accidentally fired it. He has been taken into custody and it is unclear why he was cleaning his gun during school time.

    According to reports, there was an eyewitness who said that after the boy was shot, he cried in pain for 10-15 minutes. The school did not provide a vehicle to take the child to the hospital and closed its gates instead.

    The boy was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.

    Police are investigating the incident and the parents are protesting against the school.

  • ‘The entire world wants to meet me, but I want to meet Imran Khan’

    ‘The entire world wants to meet me, but I want to meet Imran Khan’

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister (PM) on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Development Zulfi Bukhari has quoted United States (US) President Donald Trump as saying that “the entire world wants to meet him, but he wants to meet Imran Khan”.

    “Trump said that Imran Khan is a world leader whom he has faith in,” Bukhari said while speaking to a private media outlet after the two leaders’ meeting in New York on Monday night.

    He said it was a proud moment for Pakistanis all around the globe, and that the Pakistani community was overjoyed to have PM Imran with them in the US.

    “Trump has also said that the US has increased trade with Pakistan by 5 per cent and working to improve Pak-US ties will help in generating employment opportunities.”

    IMRAN MEETS TRUMP:

    Earlier, the premier met US president on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA) 74th session in a televised event.

    The two spoke about the ongoing situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK), with PM Imran telling Trump that he felt that it was “the beginning of a crisis”.

    Addressing the US president and the reporters, he said, “Trump heads the most powerful country in the world. And the most powerful country in the world has a responsibility.

    “I honestly feel that this crisis could become much bigger. We look to the US to put out flames in the world,” Imran said.

    Responding to PM Imran’s concerns, Trump said “he thinks he would be an extremely good arbitrator”.

    “I’ve done it before, believe it or not. And I’ve never failed as an arbitrator. I’ve been asked to arbitrate disputes — pretty big ones — from… friends. And I’ve done it in a good, successful fashion. If I can be of help, you know that, if I can be of help, let me know,” he added.

    The US president said his predecessors did not trust Pakistan but that he did. “I trust Pakistan, but people before me didn’t, but they didn’t know what they were doing.”

    “You know what I do? I trust this gentleman right here and I do trust Pakistan,” he noted while referring to PM Imran. “I will tell you this… you have a great leader. He’s a good man… a nice man. Happens to be a great athlete.”