Asia Tuesday, March 12, 2019 09 blocks free flow of water More Philippine priests reveal receiving death threats News from three rivers to in brief philstar.com Jesuit priest, admitted that the killings.) Both Reyes and : As tension persists between Pakistan and India, the MANILA they came out because of fear Villanueva said there were in- latter has now started impeding the flow of three rivers shared by the as he appealed to the master- dividuals seemingly conduct- Ex-Pakistan PM Ashraf, two nuclear-armed neighbours, Express News reported on Monday. Philippines–More Cath- minds of the threats to stop ing surveillance in their resi- minister Awan indicted India’s Union Minister of State for Water Resources Arjun Mehghwal olic priests have come for- the wrongdoing. dences. in graft reference announced the move at an event in Rajasthan on Sunday. He said ward to expose death threats “Bakit nga ba sila nana- Alejo lamented that the New Delhi had stopped 0.53 million acre-feet of water from the three against them, two weeks after nakot? ‘Yung mga nananakot diplomatic approach of the islamabad: An account- eastern rivers flowing into Pakistan. Caloocan Bishop Pablo Vir- sa amin ay takot din. Meron Catholic Bishops’ Conference ability court on Monday “The water has been stored and will be used whenever Rajasthan gilio David confirmed receiv- silang kinatatakutan,” he said. of the Philippines is “valid but indicted seven people, or Punjab needs it. It can be used for drinking or irrigation purposes.” ing threatening messages. (Why are they threaten- not working.” “That is a valid including former prime Another Indian minister, Nitin Gadkari, had announced similar plans At a press conference ing? Those who are threaten- approach but it’s good to re- minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf just days after the February 14 Pulwama suicide bombing in Indian- Monday, priests Albert Alejo, ing us are also threatened. alize is that it’s not enough. and ex-law minister Babar administered Kashmir. It remains unclear whether New Delhi’s latest Flavie Villanueva and Robert They also fear something.) President Rodrigo Duterte. Maybe what we need to do is Awan, in the Nandipur Pow- act of aggression could be viewed as a violation of the Indus Waters Reyes revealed death threats Reyes—known as the “running not to expect everything from er Project reference filed Treaty. Under the agreement signed in 1960, Islamabad has unrestrict- they have recently received. priest”—said their response is pananakot, itigil na ang pag- the bishops. I think the CBCP by the National Account- ed access to the western rivers Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, while New The priests also bared that not silence. patay,” Reyes said. should be stronger in its po- ability Bureau (NAB). Judge Delhi enjoys the same authority over the eastern rivers Ravi, Beas and threats in the form of text “Ang sagot ay hindi pa- (The answer should not sition and that strong posi- Arshad Malik announced Sutlej. However, in December last year, Pakistan’s Minister for Law and messages were also sent to nanahimik kundi malinaw, be silence, but clear, coura- tion should be based on real, the decision at a hearing Justice Barrister Dr Muhammad Farogh Naseem said India had started Lingayen-Dagupan Archbish- matapang na pamamahayag geous proclamation and con- solid data, real solid analysis that was attended by both using water from the western rivers for industrial purposes. (agencies) op Socrates Villages. Alejo, a at paninindigan. Itigil na ang viction. Stop the threats, stop of the data,” Alejo said. senior politicians. Along with five other accused, Ashraf of the Pakistan Peo- ples Party (PPP) and Awan of the Pakistan Tehreek- Muslims dismayed over e-Insaf (PTI) pleaded not guilty. The court conveyed its decision to commence a Choice is between 3 phases of LS elections trial and issued summons to witnesses for March 19. (tribune.com.pk) during Ramadan fasting ‘Key conspirator’ of Gandhi’s India and IANS Kashmir attack shot Mumbai Can’t postpone dead: Indian police polls for full Prominent Muslim com- Srinagar: Indian police munity leaders on Monday ex- month, says EC said Monday that one of the pressed dismay over the Elec- New Delhi: In wake of the “key conspirators” behind a Godse’s, says Rahul tion Commission of India’s controversy over Lok Sabha suicide attack that killed at announcement to hold the Lok election schedule, the Elec- least 40 troops in Kashmir Sabha polls in seven phases, tion Commission on Monday had died in a shootout with Rahul Gandhi terms the upcoming Lok Sabha elections a contest between the with the three final phases fall- said that it was not possible government forces. Mudasir ing in the holy Ramadan month to postpone the polls for the Ahmed Khan, who was shot Congress’ ideology of inclusivity and Modi–RSS ideology of fear and hatred of fasting. The Ramadan month full month of Ramzan, and dead Sunday, was described starts on May 5 and will contin- underlined that main festival by authorities as a top com- ue till June 4, and the last three days and Fridays have been mander with Jaish-e-Moham- phases of polling are scheduled excluded. “During Ramzan, mad (JeM), the militant group on May 6, May 12 and May 19. polls are conducted as the behind the deadly February The polling in these three full month cannot be ex- 14 bombing in Indian Kash- phases shall be conducted for cluded. However, the dates mir. That attack on a convoy 51, 59 and 59 constituencies, of main festival and Fridays of Indian paramilitaries in respectively, as per the EC are avoided for poll days,” its portion of Kashmir was schedule unveiled on Sunday. an EC spokesperson said. the deadliest in decades, Maharashtra Congress Rajya The seven-phase Lok Sabha and provoked a retaliatory Sabha MP Hussain Dalwai said polls are beginning from April airstrike against what New that it is surprising how the EC 11 and will conclude on May Delhi called a JeM camp on failed to consider this aspect 19. The counting will take Pakistani soil. (AFP) and urged it to examine if suit- place on May 23. Ramzan, able modifications in the dates when Muslims fast during Pakistan releases can be made. the day, is likely to start on incarcerated “Muslims usually go out May 6 this year. (IANS) and vote in large numbers, Indian citizen but this time given the con- LAHORE: Pakistan on straints of fasting plus the the poll schedules at this stage, Monday released an Indian severe heat in May they may we request the EC to issue di- citizen after the completion be reluctant to step out and rections to all polling chiefs and of his sentence. The prisoner, exercise their franchise. If at least permit separate queues 31-year-old Ghulam Qadeer, someone faints or collapses in for all fasting Muslims at poll- was handed over to India’s the long queues, who will be ing stations so that they can cast Border Security Force (BSF) responsible,” Dalwai said. their votes quickly and return,” by Pakistani authorities. Echoing similar sentiments, Memon said. Qadeer had illegally entered Nationalist Congress Party Ra- All India Ulema Council Pakistan, said sources in the jya Sabha MP Majeed Memon general secretary Maulana Me- interior ministry. Last week, said: “It was desirable that such hmood Daryabadi said many another Pakistani prisoner a clash could have been avoided Muslims have expressed con- died in an Indian prison after by the EC,”, elaborating that the cern over the poll schedules in a prolonged illness. Amin Ramadan month schedules are Ramadan and said they would Afzal, a fisherman, was ar- known in advance. “Although be grateful if the EC could grant rested by the Indian Coast it may not be feasible to change some minor concessions. Guard in 2017 when he had President of Indian opposition party Congress Rahul Gandhi speaks at a campaign rally, in New Delhi, on Monday. (AFP) mistakenly taken his fishing vessel into Indian waters. IANS Congress vows probe of bank deposits soon as it comes to power. Afzal was a resident of New Delhi “On the one hand you have ’s Umerkot. (express) after demonetisation if voted to power Modi who waived loans worth 200 Muslim homes burnt Terming the upcoming Lok New Delhi: Lambasting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for destroy- Rs 3.5 lakh crore of a handful of assualt on Sabha elections a contest be- ing the economy through demonetisation, the Congress on Mon- industrialists, and on the other down in India’s Meerut Afghan army outpost tween the Congress’ ideology day claimed that if voted to power, it will probe the post-note ban you have the Congress which leaves 16 dead of inclusivity and Narendra deposits in tax havens and Indian banks, including a Gujarat bank will implement the minimum NEW DELHI: Attacks against Muslims and their properties have Modi and the RSS ideology with BJP President Amit Shah as its director which had netted a income guarantee scheme im- significantly grown in India after Pulwama assault. In the latest act : A Taliban attack of fear and hatred, Congress very high amount of money. mediately after coming to pow- of brutality, more than 200 homes of Muslims in Meerut, not far on an Afghan army outpost President Rahul Gandhi on The Congress’ fresh attack against Modi on demonetisation er,” said Gandhi. Explaining the from Delhi, were set on fire allegedly by cops during an operation in the war-torn country’s Monday promised a minimum came following revelations that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had scheme, he said the minimum against encroachment in the area. western Badghis province left income guarantee scheme for contested the impact of the move, particularly in the context of its income of the country will be The security officials alleged the unknown miscreants for at least 16 soldiers dead, all the poor in the country if stated objective of curbing black money and counterfeit notes. calculated which will act as the heinous act, saying: “Some of the shanties were set on fire by officials said on Monday. the party is voted to power. Citing the minutes of the RBI’s central board of directors’ standard and those below that some miscreants when they were trying to evict the encroach- A number of others were Addressing booth workers meeting held just prior to Modi’s November 8, 2016, announce- level will be given the shortfall. ers.” However, a video, which is being widely circulated, shows a wounded and 20 others at the Indira Gandhi Stadium ment, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the gov- “Nobody in the country will Muslim man, accusing the police for the shanties being set on were taken hostage by the here, Gandhi ridiculed Modi for ernment imposed demonetisation on the RBI and termed it a be below the minimum income fire. The chaos that ensued even took a minor communal colour, Taliban after the militants being a coward and said only “huge money lacquering scheme”. (IANS) level,” Gandhi claimed. thereby escalating the tension. Instead of taking action against stormed the outpost in Bala the Congress can tackle the twin “No country in the world the culprits involved in burning down the homes police filed FIR Murghab district on Sunday challenges of unemployment Congress’ ideology of love and sage among the masses. has ever tried such a scheme, against unknown men and arrested around six Muslim men in evening, said provincial and the agrarian crisis. inclusivity on the other. Holding the Modi govern- but we will implement it. In this case. According to some critics, Modi government has totally council member Mohammad “The choice is between In- “The Congress will form the ment responsible for two of the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh failed to protect the lives, properties of the Muslims and other mi- Nasir Nazari. The head of the dia of Mahatma Gandhi and government in the coming elec- biggest challenges facing the and Chhattisgarh, we promised norities. Social activists blame police and media for not highlight- provincial council Abdul Aziz that of his assassin (Nathuram) tions as it is the only party that country–unemployment and farm loan waiver and within ing Meerut-like incidents. In most of cases the Muslim population Bek put the toll higher, that Godse. The fight is between can change India,” Gandhi said agrarian distress, Gandhi said two days of coming to power, are being targeted and Hindu extremist are being used to incite 20 soldiers died. (dpa) Modi and RSS’ ideology of fear while urging the party workers the Congress will ensure a mini- we did that. Only the Congress violence with sole agenda of instilling fear in Muslims. (agencies) and hatred on one side and the to spread the Congress’ mes- mum income for all the poor as can do it,” he asserted. Taliban leader Mullah Omar lived next to US’s Afghan base: Biography

AFP ince, where he died in 2013. filling notebooks with jottings patrol approached as Omar the Pentagon constructed For- world, the book says. It says Kabul The Afghan government has in an imaginary language. and Omari were in the court- ward Operating Base Wolver- he delegated Taliban leader- vehemently denied the claims She spent more than five yard. Alarmed, the two men ine–home to 1,000 US troops, ship after 2001, acting more as Taliban founder Mullah in “Searching for an Enemy”, years researching the book and ducked behind a wood pile, and where American and Brit- a spiritual leader to the group. Omar lived within walking by Dutch journalist Bette interviewed Omar’s bodyguard but the soldiers passed without ish special forces were some- The book claims that Omar distance of US bases in Af- Dam,–but the Taliban, who Jabbar Omari, who claimed entering. times based–close by. became ill in 2013 and refused ghanistan for years, accord- are currently in talks with to have hid and protected him A second time, US troops He dared not move again, to travel to Pakistan for treat- ing to a new book that sug- Washington, said the book’s after the Taliban regime was even searched the house but Dam says, rarely going outside ment, later dying in Zabul. gests embarrassing failures of claim that Omar remained in overthrown. did not uncover the concealed and often hiding in tunnels The Afghan government American intelligence. is “true”. Following the 9/11 attacks entrance to his secret room. when US planes flew over. said it “strongly” rejected the US and Afghan leaders Dam–who spent years re- in 2001 which led to the fall of Omar decided to move Though he listened to the “delusional” claim. believed the one-eyed, fugi- porting in Afghanistan and has the Taliban, the US put a $10 Taliban founder Mullah Omar. when the US started building BBC’s evening Pashto-lan- “(W)e see it as an effort to tive leader fled to and even- also written a book about for- million bounty on Omar and Forward Operating Base Lag- guage news broadcasts, even create and build an identify tually died in Pakistan, but a mer Afghan president Hamid he went into hiding in a small compound were not told of the man in 2004, just a few hun- when Omar learned about the for the Taliban and their for- new biography says Omar was Karzai–described the Taliban compound in the regional capi- identity of their mystery guest, dred metres from his hideout. death of al-Qaeda supremo eign backers,” tweeted Haroon living just three miles from a chief as a virtual hermit, refus- tal Qalat, Dam wrote. but US forces almost found He later moved to a second Osama Bin Laden he rarely Chakhansuri, a spokesman for major US base in Zabul prov- ing visits from his family and The family living at the him twice. At one point, a US building but soon afterwards commented on the outside the Afghan presidency.