Asia Sunday, March 24, 2019 09

Pakistan celebrates National Day PM Imran Khan News welcomes Narendra in brief Modi’s greetings dpa India’s first national anti-graft ombudsman takes oath of office Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan welcomed a mes- New Delhi: A retired Indian sage from Indian counterpart Supreme Court judge on Narendra Modi on ’s Saturday took the oath as national day, weeks after a sui- the country’s first lokpal cide bombing in the disputed or national anti-corruption region of Kashmir triggered an ombudsman, almost five escalation in tensions between years after parliament the two neighbours. passed a law to set up the “I welcome PM Modi’s mes- post. The Lokpal and Lok- sage to our people. As we cel- ayuktas Act envisages the Pakistan troops during the parade in Islamabad, on ebrate Pakistan Day, I believe setting up of ombudsmen Saturday. (AFP) it is time to begin a compre- at the federal and state hensive dialogue with India to level to probe complaints address & resolve all issues, esp of corruption against the central issue of Kashmir, & government officials and forge a new relationship based ministers. Indian President on peace & prosperity for all Ram Nath Kovind, Vice our people,” Khan said on Twit- President Venkaiah Naidu, ter late Friday. Khan said the Chief Justice of India Ran- message from Modi extended jan Gogoi and Prime Min- “greetings” and “best wishes” to ister Narendra Modi were the people of Pakistan. present on Saturday at the The Indian premier sent oath-taking ceremony for the message days after the two Pinaki Ghose. (dpa) countries revived diplomatic contact and discussed the open- Taiwan president ing of a corridor and a new bor- shores up dwindling Pakistani PM Imran Khan, his Malaysian counterpart , der crossing to allow Sikhs to allies on Pacific tour Pakistan President Ariff AlvI, Defence Minister of Colonel visit one of their holiest shrines General Hasanov Zakir Asgar Oglu and his Pakistani counterpart Pervez in Pakistan. Addressing a mili- Koror: Visiting Taiwan Khattak watch the Pakistan Day parade in Islamabad, on Saturday. (AFP) A march past by contingents of Pakistani armed forces at the military parade in Islamabad, on Saturday. (AFP) tary parade on Saturday, Presi- President Tsai Ing-wen has dent Arif Alvi said that “Paki- pledged a tourism boost and stan respects sovereignty of all gifted a coast guard vessel countries and wishes peace.” to the remote Pacific micro- Malaysian Prime Minister Ma- state of Palau, as she works hathir Mohamed is the guest of to check a push for regional Military might on display honour at the parade. influence by rival . Tsai arrived in Palau on Thursday to kick off her second official visit to the Pacific, amid grow- 4 Iranian soldiers ing concerns over Beijing’s attempt to lure away Taipei’s at Pakistan Day parade rescued in Pakistan few remaining diplomatic al- return home lies. Her overtures this week included a pledge to increase tribune.com.pk flights to the tiny island state, Malays­ian PM Mahath­ir Mohama­d attend­s Pakist­an National Day parade as specia­l guest TEHRAN which is struggling to boost tourism after cutting back on tribune.com.pk Pakistan’s push for peace should not be President, PM stress need to reform The four Iranian border guards charter flights from mainland islamabad mistaken as weakness: President Alvi Pakistan into Islamic welfare state rescued by the Pakistan mili- China. (AFP) tary from militants returned The nation is celebrating Pa- Islamabad: President Arif Alvi on Saturday stressed that Pakistan’s islamabad: The president and PM, in commemoration of the Paki- on Friday to Tehran to a hero’s Communal tension kistan Day on Saturday with desire for peace should not be misconstrued as weakness. Address- stan Day, stressed on achieving the goal of reforming Pakistan into welcome, state television re- in Gurugram after a commitment to ensure pro- ing the Pakistan Day Parade, he reiterated that Pakistan believed in an Islamic welfare state as envisaged by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad ported. Live footage showed the attack on family gress, prosperity and a strong peaceful co-existence. “Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state but it Ali Jinnah. President Arif Alvi, in his message, said that the nation had soldiers dressed in suits step- defense of the country. wants peace, not war. Pakistan respects integrity and sovereignty of overcome challenges pertaining to extremism and terrorism. However, ping off an Antonov 74 trans- Gurugram: Following the The day dawned with other states,” Alvi said. The president said that India’s irresponsible the country is yet to make efforts for excelling on social and economic port aircraft and welcomed by attack on a family belonging thirty-one-gun salute in the attitude jeopardised peace in the region. “India will have to accept Pa- fronts. PM Imran Khan, expressed resolve to establishing an Islamic their commander, Brigadier to a particular community federal capital and twenty- kistan as a reality, and it must come to the conclusion that dialogue is welfare state, whereby every person can contribute towards socio- General Mohammad Pakpour in Gurugram’s Bhup Singh one-gun salute in provincial the only way to resolve issues.” Pakistan Day: Military might displayed economic development to the best of their ability. The premier further who heads the Revolutionary Nagar under the Bhondsi capitals, Radio Pakistan re- at Islamabad parade The president said that the demonstration of mentioned that the Kashmiri people should not be forgotten on this Guards ground forces. Police Station on the day of ported. Special prayers were Pakistan’s defence capability highlighted that Pakistan was a peaceful day. “They have long been victims of Indian-sponsored terrorism and The Inter-Services Pub- Holi, the area continued to be offered in mosques after Fajr nation, but not oblivious to its defence. (tribune.com.pk) forced into a life of misery,” he maintained. (tribune.com.pk) lic Relations (ISPR) said in a tense on Saturday. Aa many prayers for the progress and statement on Thursday that the as 35-40 goons assaulted prosperity of Pakistan. security forces conducted an the family members following The military parade was Chiefs of Staff Committee ernment officials from Oman parade was the participation the marching columns, while intelligence operation (IBO) at a row over the latter playing under way at Parade Ground General Zubair Mehmood are also in attendance. Con- of paratroopers from Azerbai- and China participat- Amori in the Chaghai district of cricket on the day of Holi on near Islamabad’s Shakar- Hayat and the three services tingents of the three armed jan, , , Saudi ed in the aerobatics display. Balochistan, about three to four March 21. A video of assault parian hills. Special guest chiefs. President Alvi Minis- forces conducted a march- Arabia and . The Pakistan’s weaponry includ- kilometres from the Pakistan- has gone viral on the social of honour Malaysian Prime ter of Defence of the Republic past, while a formation of Pa- Special Services Group’s Sky ing Al-Zarrar and Al-Khalid border. Brigadier- media. A large number of Minister Mahathir Moham- of Azerbaijan Colonel General kistan Air Force jets led by Air Divers undertook free-fall tanks, a variety of armoured General Mohammad Pakpour people assembled outside mad was also present at the Zakir Hasanov, Commander Chief Marshal Mujahid An- jumps from a height of 10,000 personnel carriers, and sur- (C), commander of the Islamic the house of Mohamad parade, along with President National Guard of Bahrain war Khan presented a fly-past feet. veillance equipment such as Revolutionary Guard Corps Shamshad, the victim, on Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Im- Sheikh Mohamed Bin Isa Bin as a salute to the president. Contingents of Azerbaijan the Giraffe radar was present- ground forces, poses with four Saturday. As per reports, the ran Khan, Chairman Joint Salman Al-Khalifa, and gov- A special hallmark of the and were part of ed before the audience. freed Iranian border guards. family members were also told to go to Pakistan. (IANS) Trinamool removes SP leader Akhilesh hits back at Modi,accuses ‘Congress’ from Elections a battle between unity & divisiveness: Rahul BJP of atrocity on Dalits and backwards its new logo IANS two ideologies. At one end is the Training his guns on Modi, Lucknow: Launching a blistering attack on the BJP here on Kolkata: West Bengal’s Chanchal Congress and on the other side Gandhi claimed that the Prime Saturday, Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief ruling All India Trinamool is the Bharatiya Janata Party Minister was a “chowkidar” minister Akhilesh Yadav said the ruling party has suppressed Congress has dropped the Accusing Prime Minister (BJP), the Rashtriya Swayam- (watchman) for the rich and Dalits and backward communities, and the people are ready to ‘Congress’ from its new logo Narendra Modi of “lying all sevak Sangh (RSS) and Naren- corrupt in the country, who pay back through the ballots in the forthcoming elections. earlier this month and added day in his speeches”, Congress dra Modi. didn’t care about the woes of the Yadav’s comments came soon after Prime Minister Naren- dollops of blue, white and President Rahul Gandhi on “We work to unite the na- common people. dra Modi on Saturday accused political parties that claim to be green colour to it besides Saturday termed the coming tion and try to bring people to- “Modi ji keeps lying all day followers of socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia, of betraying giving it a catchy slogan in Lok Sabha elections a battle be- gether by talking about love and during his speeches. He will lie his (Lohia’s) principles. “They (BJP) should remember that the a bid to make the party one tween the Congress’ idea of uni- brotherhood, while the BJP- about something or the other Dalits and the backward community are aware of their mindset. with the people of the east- ty and the BJP-RSS’ ideology of RSS spread hatred wherever it wherever he goes. He is the And people are now ready to give their reply in the Lok Sabha ern state. Observers said it “divisiveness and hatred”. goes. It makes people of differ- Congress President Rahul Gandhi. ‘chowkidar’ of the rich and cor- polls. “When the BJP came to power it said it will hug the back- could also be CM Mamata “We have the general elec- ent religions and language fight rupt such as Nirav Modi, Lalit ward community. But they have suppressed the Dalits and the Banerjee’s way of distancing tions in the country before us against each other,” Gandhi gathering at the Kolom Bagan Modi and Mehul Choksi,” he backward community,” he said. (IANS) her party completely from the within a few days. It is a battle of said while addressing a large ground here in Malda district. alleged. Indian National Congress. “The name Trinamool is enough. It resonates in the hearts of all our workers and supporters,” said a Trina- 13 of a family killed in Philippines seizes drugs worth $35mn smuggled from China mool LS member. (IANS) dpa of illegal drugs.” The informa- Twin blasts at Afghan Manila tion prompted the agency to ceremony kill at least Afghan army operation alert the Bureau of Customs, three, wound 30 Philippine customs and which immediately search for dpa city to counter the Taliban’s anti-drug operatives have in- the container, he added. Kandahar: At least three Kabul growing presence in the area, tercepted a shipment from Shabu is the most popu- people were killed and 30 officials said. China containing nearly 300 lar illegal drug in the Philip- wounded in twin explosions At least 13 members of the The conflict in afghanistan kilos of narcotics worth ap- pines, where the government inside a stadium hosting an same family were killed during killed more civilians last year proximately 1.8 billion pesos has been waging an aggressive agricultural show in southern an operation conducted by Af- than at any time since records (35.2 million dollars), officials campaign against the illicit Afghanistan on Saturday, ghan and international forces have been kept, the United said Saturday. trade. officials said. The blasts hap- in northern Kunduz province, Nations Assistance The methampetamine More than 5,000 people pened in Lashkar Gah, the officials said on Saturday. Mission (UNAMA) and the hydrochloride, locally called have been killed in police op- capital of volatile Helmand The operation on the out- UN Human Rights Office said “shabu,” was wrapped in clear erations under the govern- province, as people marked skirts of Kunduz city also in a report released in Febru- cellophane, sealed in foil pack- ment’s crackdown against il- Farmers’ Day as part of Per- left two people injured, pro- ary. In southern Kandahar aging and stashed in 12 sacks (File photo) The PDEA reels in almost 12 kilograms of shabu. legal drugs since 2016. sian New Year celebrations, vincial councillor Amruddin province, a parliamentarian that were placed inside a 40- New York-based watchdog provincial governor spokes- Wali said. representing Uruzgan resi- foot container, the Bureau of ing, it added. “Upon testing general of the Philippine Drug Human Rights Watch said man Omar Zhwak said. Peo- Another provincial council dents, Obaidullah Barakzai, Customs said in a statement. the sample of the subject sub- Enforcement Agency, said the real death toll in the drug ple had put their agricultural member, Safiullah Amiri, said was gunned down and killed, The shipment was de- stance, authorities were able his office received a tip from crackdown, including victims products on display in the 14 people were killed. a spokesman for the local gov- clared to be carrying plastic to confirm that the items were counterparts in Vietnam that of hired or vigilante killers, city’s main stadium when the Supported from the air, a ernor said. resin and arrived in Manila shabu,” the bureau said in a a container aboard a ship from could be higher than 12,000, explosions happened. (AFP) large-scale operation is under The Taliban denied in- on March 17. The container statement. Ho Chi Minh City was arriving based on estimates by local way in the outskirts of Kunduz volvement in the attack. was seized on Friday even- Aaron Aquino, director in Manila with “huge amounts rights and church groups.