04 Saturday, January 5, 2019 Pakistan / SA 13 police officers killed in Rakhine UN slams Bangladesh ‘reprisals’ post-election rebel raids, says Myanmar army AFP tions that reprisals have con- Dhaka tinued to take place, notably AFP hundreds of thousands of Ro- against the political opposition, Yangon hingya Muslims forced over The United Nations said Fri- including physical attacks and the border by a bloody army day that worrying cases of ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests, Thirteen Myanmar police crackdown in 2017. violence and intimidation have harassment, disappearances officers were killed in raids Fri- Around 350 Militants from been reported in Bangladesh and filing of criminal cases. day by ethnic Rakhine rebels, the Arakan Army swarmed since the country’s deadly elec- “Reports suggest that vio- the army said, in a brazen, co- four police stations in northern tion campaign. lent attacks and intimidation, ordinated attack on the coun- Rakhine state early on Friday A woman allegedly gang- including against minorities, try’s Independence Day which “killing 13 police and wound- raped for voting for an op- have been disproportionately adds a dangerous new dimen- ing nine others”, according to a position party is among the carried out by ruling party ac- sion to conflict in the restive statement released late Friday worst of a series of attacks tivists, at times with the com- western state. by the army chief’s office. reported by local media since plicity or involvement of law Rakhine has seen a surge The militants stole scores Sunday’s election which enforcement officers,” said the in violence in recent weeks of weapons and ammunition Prime Minister Sheikh Hasi- UN spokeswoman. between rebels from the Ara- before army reinforcements na won by a landslide. The UN called on Bangla- kan Army (AA)–who are seek- struck back with two attack hel- “We are concerned about desh authorities “to carry out Activists of leftist alliance cover their mouth with black cloths as they join in a rally to demand a new election ing greater autonomy for their icopters and infantry columns, violence and alleged human prompt, independent, impar- under caretaker government, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Thursday. (REUTERS) ethnic Rakhine group, who are added the statement, which rights violations in Bangladesh tial and effective investiga- Buddhists–and security forces, was shared on a Russian social before, during and after the tions” into the election-related Digital Security Act “in relation voter intimidation and fraud. because she voted for the oppo- displacing thousands. networking site. recent elections,” said Ravina violence as well as attacks and to their reporting on the elec- On election night, a mother sition Bangladesh Nationalist It has added a fresh layer “Strong action will be taken Shamdasani, spokeswoman for threats made to journalists. tion”. At least 17 people died of four in the southern dis- Party, media reports said. Her of complexity and danger to against the AA insurgents by se- the UN human rights commis- The spokeswoman said at in election-related violence up trict of Noakhali was allegedly family has filed a police com- the violence in an area already curity forces as they are making sioner in Geneva. least two journalists have been to polling day. The opposition raped by more than 10 follow- plaint but the Awami League scored by deep ethnic and things more unstable and com- “There are worrying indica- arrested under Bangladesh’s has said there was widespread ers of the ruling Awami League denied any link to the case. religious enmity, which saw plicated in Rakhine,” it said.

News in brief Pakistan expects cooperation Trump ‘evaluating’ troop presence in Afghanistan, says Pence

Washington: US President Donald Trump is actively consider- ing the presence of his country’s troops in Afghanistan, US Vice from Turkey in all areas: Imran President Mike Pence said in an interview late Thursday. Asked by Fox News if Trump thought the US benefited from a continued presence of its troops in Afghanistan, Pence said: “the president is in the process of evaluating that, as we speak.” Sev- eral US media outlets reported last month that the US was plan- ning to withdraw about half of its 14,000 soldiers on the ground from the country. However, no official confirmation followed. On Wednesday, Trump said on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting that Russia, Pakistan and India should be intervening in Afghanistan, not the US. “Why are we there 6,000 miles away?” Trump asked. Experts believe a hasty troop pullback would hinder the Afghan military’s efforts against militant group Islamic State and the Taliban insurgency. (dpa)

NRO case: Top court disposes of petition against Musharraf, Zardari ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday disposed of a consti- tutional petition against former presidents General (retd) Pervez Musharraf and Asif Ali Zardari, seeking recovery of “losses incurred by the national exchequer following the promulgation of 2007’s National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). A 3-member bench headed by CJP Saqib Nisar observed that the apex court shall not proceed further in the matter as the respondents had submitted details of their assets on record. The bench, however, ruled that the petitioner could further pursue the matter in a proper forum. When informed that the petitioner could not attend the hearing, the bench noted that he had already submitted a concise statement in the public interest case. The petition Nominating Musharraf, Zardari as respondents, had requested the apex court to order recovery of “huge amounts of public money” misappropriated. (tribune.com.pk)

Pakistan inducts Sri Lanka to begin indigenous A-100 work on Light Rail rocket in arsenal Transit project Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a guard of honour ceremony in Ankara on Friday. islamabad: Pakistan Army Colombo: Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has inducted A-100 Rocket of ministers has granted ap- Pakistan out of the economic regional and bilateral issues. in Multiple Launch Rocket proval to commence work on a PM Imran, President Erdogan agreed to enhance bilateral crisis. It will raise people out of According to Foreign Office, System (MLRS) of its Corps Light Rail Transit (LRT) project poverty.” Qureshi appraised Turkish of Artillery. A-100 Rocket has here and its surrounding areas relations & strengthen economic ties between the two Hailing China as an exam- foreign minister of Pakistan’s been indigenously developed in order to ease the traffic ple, he said the country had efforts for peace and reconcili- by Pakistani scientists and congestion in the populated countries during a meeting in Ankara achieved what no other could ation in Afghanistan. engineers, stated the Inter- Colombo district, the media in the history of mankind. We are looking for invest- Services Public Relations reported on Friday. tribune.com.pk stan. He said an Afghanistan Turkey’s business community, “They lifted over 700 million ments in Pakistan and increas- (ISPR) on Friday. Following a proposal by Ankara summit will soon be held in PM Imran reminisced Pakistan people out of poverty line in 30 ing the country’s exports and “With over 100-kilome- Finance and Media Minister Istanbul. as fasting growing economies years.” PM Imran revealed that we want to provide employ- tre range, the rocket is a Mangala Samaraweera, the Prime Minister Imran Khan Commenting on ties with back in the 1960s the government had set up an ment to the young population, highly effective and potent for Cabinet granted approval to on Friday said that Pakistan India, PM Imran said Kashmir . “We were role models for office in the prime minister’s he said. On Thursday night, interdiction that can effectively enter discussions with Japan was expecting cooperation issue was the main hurdle in developing countries. South secretariat aiming to boost in- Pakistan’s delegation attended disrupt enemy’s mobilisation International Cooperation from Turkey in various fields peace between the two South Korea, Malaysia wanted to vestment. He underscored the a banquet with leading Turkish and assembly,” the military’s Agency in order to obtain a including economy. Asian nations. adopt our model. These coun- importance of ridding society business group. The dinner was media wing added. loan of $1.8 billion to begin Addressing a joint press Earlier in the day, PM Im- tries moved ahead while Paki- of corruption. hosted The Union of Chambers General Qamar Javed construction of the project, conference with Turkish Presi- ran and President Erdogan stan’s growth declined because “Corruption makes it dif- and Commodity Exchanges of Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff Xinhua news agency reported. dent Recep Tayyip Erdogan in agreed to enhance bilateral of our socialist mindset.” Criti- ficult for small and medium Turkey (TOBB). (COAS) was chief guest at the The construction of the Ankara, he said, “We will take relations and strengthen eco- cising Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s na- enterprises to flourish. It In his speech, PM Imran induction ceremony. Speaking project is expected to start this [bilateral] relations to higher nomic ties between the two tionalisation policy; Imran said becomes the reason behind conveyed his government’s on the occasion, Army chief year and covers a distance of level and learn from Turkish countries during a meeting in policy deterred wealth crea- countries failure to reach their intent to enhancing trade be- Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa paid 17 kilometres. Sixteen LRT innovations.” PM Imran, who Ankara, according to a PM Of- tion. potential.” The prime minister tween the two countries. He rich tributes to scientists and stations will be constructed is on a two-day visit to Turkey, fice statement on Twitter. “Profit-making was con- said his government realised enphasised that Pakistan was engineers for indigenously along the route which covers said Pakistan must also learn The premier had arrived in sidered a sin. Businessmen, hurdles faced by the Turkish on its way to strengthening its developing the rocket, which Borella, Rajagiriya, Battaramul- from Turkey’s healthcare sys- the Turkish capital on a two-day industrialists were hounded businessmen in Pakistan and system of governance. shall augment army’s exist- la and Thalahena areas in the tem. visit on Thursday. His delega- out of the country.” The policy, was focused to find solutions. The prime minister also ing conventional fire power Western Province. Planners “We face mutual problems tion includes Foreign Minister Imran said, was discarded in “We assure you, you will elaborated the China-Pak capabilities. Gen Qamar say by 2035, number of pas- and security threats,” said the Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Fi- the 1980s but its influence on find a completely different Economic Corridor (CPEC) emphasised army’s resolve to sengers in the main transport Pakistani premier, adding nance Minister Asad Umar and bureaucracy and politicians re- government,” he added. Sepa- which will connect Pakistan strengthen conventional forces corridors would rise from 1.9 that Ankara and Islamabad Federal Minister for Planning, mained. rately, FM Qureshi held a will parts of the world and to meet challenges. (tribune) million–4.5 million. (IANS) will play their part in bringing Development and Reforms “Our government feels meeting with his Turkish Mev- ease transportation and open peace and stability in Afghani- Khusro Bakhtiar. Addressing wealth creation will help steer lüt Çavuşoğlu and discussed business prospects.

Taliban blames US, Nepal takes major step towards care of parents in old age Afghan forces for most casualties in 2018 law to discourage the tenden- Depositing money in parents’ bank cy. Ensuring secure lives for Kabul: The Taliban blamed US the elderly people is also the and Afghan forces for almost account by children made mandatory pride for the nation.” 90 percent of civilian casualties The Current Senior Citizen in 2018, in a report released IANS meeting had decided to pre- Act-2006 has defined people Friday that suggested Afghani- Kathmandu sent a bill on amendment to aged above 60 years as senior stan’s largest militant group the Senior Citizen Act-2006 citizens and talked about the was not responsible for a single In a decisive step to ensure that with such a provision at the responsibility of the children to death or injury. elderly people are well taken Parliament. take of their elderly parents. The data -- which NATO’s care of, the Nepali government “The main objective of the But it is the first time that a Resolute Support mission is introducing a law making it proposed bill is to ensure that law is planned to make it man- in Afghanistan dismissed as mandatory for the offspring to the lives of senior citizens will datory for the offspring to make “propaganda” -- follows a record deposit a certain portion of their become easier and secure,” he financial contribution to the year of bloodshed in the Afghan income in the bank account of was cited as saying by Xinhua care of their parents. war, which by some estimates their elderly parents, a senior news agency. Baskota said that as per overtook Syria as the world’s Nepali Minister said. “There are instances where the proposed bill, the public Representational image. deadliest conflict zone. In a press briefing, the even the people who have officials, those working in the US and “stooge” Afghan Nepali government’s spokes- property worth millions of ru- inter-government agencies, in- of their elderly parents. be deposited in the account of ception against senior citizens. government forces caused 3,705 person and Minister for Com- pees (Nepali currency) have ternational agencies and private Those failing to adhere the concerned parents,” the Any attempt to snatch the prop- casualties, while the Islamic munication and Information abused their own parents and companies must deposit a cer- to these provisions will face minister said. erty of senior citizens through State group and other “unknown” Technology Gokul Prasad have not taken care of them. tain portion of their monthly re- penalty. The proposed bill has also lure or deception has been entities were responsible for 465, Baskota said that a Cabinet “So, we are introducing the muneration in the bank account “The penalty amount will sought to control abuse and de- criminalized, he added. the Taliban claimed. (AFP)