Tag: home-politics

  • 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.

  • UAE to invest $5bn in Pakistan’s oil refinery project

    UAE to invest $5bn in Pakistan’s oil refinery project

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has decided to invest $5 billion in an oil refinery project in Pakistan by the end of 2019, Geo News has reported.

    According to the details, while talking to a newspaper the UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi said: “we are going to launch one of the biggest investments in a refinery project in Hub very soon”.

    “It is going to be a $5 billion investment between Mubadala Petroleum Company of Abu Dhabi, Pak Arab Refinery Limited (PARCO) and OMV [OMV Pakistan Exploration Gesellschaft],” Hamad Obaid was quoted as saying.

    Al-Zaabi also said that the project was the result of extensive discussions between Mubadala Petroleum and Pakistan’s petroleum ministry along with PARCO and OMV.

    The project was finalised during Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s Pakistan visit earlier this year. 

    The envoy said that the discussions are ongoing on the minute details of the refinery project, adding that a delegation headed by Mubadala Petroleum chief, Musabbeh Al Kaabi, visited Pakistan and met with the chairman of board of investment (BOI) and petroleum minister in this regard.

  • ‘Imran Bhai se rishta kya, La Ilaha Illallah’: Held Kashmir abuzz with pro-Imran chants

    ‘Imran Bhai se rishta kya, La Ilaha Illallah’: Held Kashmir abuzz with pro-Imran chants

    Kashmiris’ struggle for independence from the clutches of Indian occupying forces has been reinvigorated ever since Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, being their “ambassador to the world”, highlighted the crisis at the United Nations (UN).

    With his address to the 74th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) sweeping the troubled valley, an unprecedented wave of hope has compelled the people of the Muslim-majority region to leave their homes regardless of the restrictions imposed by India.

    According to media reports, within less than a week of PM Imran’s speech, Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) has witnessed over 50 street protests in different districts.

    As part of other protests being held since PM Imran kicked off his Kashmir campaign in the United States (US) last month, a report by BBC Urdu revealed, scores of Kashmiri protestors have taken to streets, raising slogans for freedom and demanding India to “Go back!”

    WATCH VIDEO:

    The streets of IoK are abuzz with chants of “We’re Pakistanis, Pakistan is ours!” and “What do we want? Freedom!” Among other popular slogans that hail PM Imran as a hero are, “Your brother and mine, Imran Khan!”, and “What’s our relation with Imran Khan? La Ilaha Illallah.”

    KASHMIR & IMRAN:

    The long-pending Kashmir dispute on August 5 worsened when PM Narendra Modi-led government abrogated Article 370 of the Indian constitution and robbed the region of its autonomy.

    With Pakistan fearing ethnic cleansing of Muslims in the valley as a result of the move, PM Imran announced becoming the “ambassador of the people of Kashmir to the world”.

    As part of his campaign, the premier has been highlighting Indian atrocities in IoK on different forums, including the UN.

    His entire US trip was dedicated to raising voice for innocent Kashmiris, while the highlight of his maiden UNGA address also remained intense criticism of India for the annexation of IoK and the restrictions imposed on the region under Modi’s rule.

  • Nawaz would’ve made PM again if he hadn’t listened to people around him: Brig (r) Ijaz Shah

    Nawaz would’ve made PM again if he hadn’t listened to people around him: Brig (r) Ijaz Shah

    Federal Minister for Interior Brigadier (r) Ijaz Ahmed Shah has said that former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif would have been elected as the country’s chief executive for the fourth time had he “not listened to the three or four people around him”.

    In an interview to a private news channel, the minister said that “these people included two or three MNAs and a few senators”, adding that “he won’t take names”.

    He also said that these people were still there around Nawaz and won’t let any person of the Sharif family stay out of jail.

    When asked if they included disgruntled Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Chaudhary Nisar, Ijaz replied, “If Nawaz had listened to Nisar, everything would have been fine.”

    WATCH VIDEO:

    The former premier is currently imprisoned at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail after an accountability court handed him a seven-year jail term in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case.

    Nawaz has been serving the jail term since December 24, 2018.

  • Business tycoons complain of govt’s actions to Gen Bajwa

    Business tycoons complain of govt’s actions to Gen Bajwa

    Heads of Pakistan’s leading business houses have complained to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa of the government’s tepid response to the debilitating situation facing the drivers of the economy, The News reported.

    According to reports, the complaints came as businessmen on Wednesday night called on the COAS to convey their serious concerns about the country’s stagnating economy.

    Their main gripe was that the government does not go beyond verbal assurances and that its words do not match its action.

    The delegates did not keep their anger and frustration at the government’s attitude towards the economy from the COAS and conveyed to him that their business units were being shut down, leaving countless labourers unemployed.

    They also requested the army chief to do something, adding that if nothing was done on an emergency basis, the situation would deteriorate further.

    The report quoted sources as claiming that the army chief heard the grievances expressed by the 16 to 20-member delegation and assured it of his help, adding that he would try to do something for the resolution of their problems.

    As the meeting continued, Gen Bajwa floated the idea to form an internal committee comprising military officers to address the complaints of the country’s business community so that they could be resolved as soon as possible.

    He also advised the business tycoons that they should cooperate with the government and not side with anti-government forces.

  • VIDEO: ‘KP police raid salons, arrest people for getting beards trimmed’

    A video of police raiding hair salons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has gone viral over the internet with the claim that the authorities are arresting and harassing people for getting their beards trimmed in a fashionable way.

    The person who shared the video also claimed that police were charging the arrestees with heavy fines and that hairdressers, fearing arrest, had even started denying beard-trimming requests by their customers.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    The alleged development comes after reports that the Frontier Provincial Hairdressers and the Beauticians Association have advised all hairdressers registered with the body to avoid cutting beards in a fashionable way.

    They had also warned that violators would face heavy fines.

    The KP Information Department had, however, denied having released any orders to restrain the so-called stylish beards and warned that strict action will be taken against people imposing such laws.

  • Ex-Indian PM accepts invitation for Kartarpur Corridor inauguration

    Ex-Indian PM accepts invitation for Kartarpur Corridor inauguration

    Former Indian prime minister (PM) Manmohan Singh has accepted Pakistan’s invitation to travel across the border for the Kartarpur Corridor inauguration in November this year.

    According to Indian Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Amarinder Singh’s spokesperson, the former premier will join the first Jatha [organised company of Sikhs] to Kartarpur Gurdwara on November 9.

    “Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh accepts @capt_amarinder’s invite to join 1st Jatha to Sri Kartarpur Gurdwara on Nov 9, will also attend Sultanpur Lodhi main event @550yrsGuruNanak [sic],” Raveen Thukral tweeted.

    Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had announced the decision to invite ex-PM Singh in a video message that he said, would be followed up with a formal invitation from the Pakistani government.

    “Dr Singh is widely respected in India and hails from the Sikh community,” he had said in the video that also made a reference to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s deep interest in the Kartarpur project.

    The corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Gurdaspur district and facilitate visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims, who will have to obtain a permit to make the pilgrimage.

    The corridor will be opened in November ahead of Guru Nanak Dev’s 550th birth anniversary. Kartarpur Sahib was established in 1522 by Sikh faith founder Guru Nanak Dev.

  • 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
  • VIDEO: Indian defence minister mocks PM Imran over modest US trip

    VIDEO: Indian defence minister mocks PM Imran over modest US trip

    Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has mocked Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for his austere trip to the United States (US) where he had initially planned to fly on a commercial flight instead of using a chartered plane, The Express Tribune reported.

    Days after the premier “successfully” raised the Kashmir issue and Narendra Modi-led government’s atrocities in the occupied valley at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Singh has claimed that “lack of financial wisdom led the Pakistani government to a situation where their prime minister has to struggle to arrange for a plane to attend global events”.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    He ridiculed the austerity policies at a time when perhaps his own country needed it most amid the rising unemployment and economic slowdown with many global rating agencies painting a gloomy picture of India’s economy.

    According to a Reuters report, India’s economy grew at its weakest pace since 2013 between April and June as consumer demand and government spending slowed amid global trade frictions.

    Meanwhile, Prabhash K Dutta, an Indian journalist, urged the Indian leaders to learn from Premier Imran’s low-cost US visit instead of mocking him.

    He wrote in the India Today, that it is far from the truth that PM Imran or the Pakistani government cannot afford a special aircraft for him, as falsely claimed by the defence minister in his statement.

    This was the practice in Pakistan till the previous government. Premier Imran, after coming to power last year, has been calling for austerity in the government, he added.