/ Pakistan / Asia Tuesday, December 18, 2018 15

News in brief Kashmir locked down to thwart shooting deaths protest AFP train services shut down to pre- Srinagar, India Modi’s handling of Kashmir vent protesters from massing Cambodia hails opening in numbers. “Restrictions are of largest dam despite Indian authorities locked hurting India, says CPI-M in place in some city areas and opposition, warnings down parts of restive Kashmir in Pulwama,” inspector general on Monday as police fired tear New Delhi: The Modi government’s gross mishandling of the of police Swayam Prakash Pani Stung Treng: Cambodian gas at protesters defying a cur- situation in the Kashmir Valley is hurting India, the CPI-M said on said, referring to Srinagar and premier Hun Sen on Monday few to march against the shoot- Monday, adding that the killing of unarmed protesters by secu- the southern district where Sat- opened the country’s largest ing death of seven civilians. rity forces was “unacceptable”. “The BJP is interested in the urday’s shooting occurred. hydropower scheme, swatting Separatist leaders had continuation of the situation to aid its larger political agenda Police fired tear gas to aside dire warnings about the urged the public to march on of communal polarization in view of the general elections,” the drive back dozens of protesters environmental impact of the India’s military headquarters Communist Party of India said in a statement after a two-day led by a key separatist leader $780 million project and its in the disputed territory, after meeting of its Central Committee here. “No political account- who tried to reach the base in effect on local communities. seven people were killed and ability, no responsibility for the mess it has created. Its gross Jammu and Kashmir lawmaker Sheikh Rashid Engineer (3rd right) central Srinagar. Yasin Malik, Backed by Chinese funding, dozens wounded in army fire on mishandling of these issues is hurting India,” it added. (IANS) shouts slogans along with other demonstrators before being chief of the JKLF, was detained the impoverished Southeast Saturday. Authorities took no detained during a protest, in Srinagar on Monday. (AFP) by police. Other key separatist Asian nation has embarked chances in a region where pro- leaders were put under house on a dam-building spree in tests frequently descend into to the key army base with razor A total curfew was imposed in in Muslim-majority Kashmir, bile internet services were also arrest to stop them marshal- recent years, as it tries to bloodshed, barricading roads wire and armoured vehicles. parts of Srinagar, the main city to try and curb any unrest. Mo- suspended in some areas, and ling other protesters. boost its energy capacity and jump-start its economy. But the 400 megawatt Lower Sesan 2 is one of several dams criticised. (AFP) China may release Pakistan releases Indian spy after three Congress leader Sajjan $2 bn to Pakistan years of detention Islamabad: Pakistan said reserves this month Monday it was releasing an Indian spy following the thenews.com.pk completion of a three-year jailed for life over Sikh ISLAMABAD US softens stand sentence handed down on IMF accord on charges of espionage. In a positive development, with Pakistan Hamid Nehal Ansari was China is most likely to park being released from jail $2 billion in Pakistan reserves ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has and repatriated to India, sometime in the ongoing month abandoned its planned foreign ministry spokes- killings in 1984 riots of December, and, more impor- economic diplomacy with man Mohammad Faisal tantly, the economic diplomacy US as the Trump admin- wrote on Twitter. Ansari had with allies is also going to fetch istration has softened its illegally entered Pakistan Mass killings of Sikhs in Delhi, elsewhere were ‘crimes against humanity’: HC the dividends. viewpoint for Pakistan’ and was involved in anti- In the month of January expected bailout package state crimes and document 2019, the country is most likely from International Monetary forgery, the spokesman to attain $6 billion facility as is Fund (IMF), a top official at said. The spokesman did managed from Saudi Arabia, Finance Ministry said. not share details of the a senior official, privy to the At the beginning, the repatriation. (dpa) development, told The News. Fund had asked PTI govern- “UAE will also deposit $3 bil- ment to bring down budget lion in Pakistan reserves, but in deficit to just over 2.5 per- installments’ mode, and would cent of the GDP in next three also extend oil facility of $3 bil- years knowing the fact at lion on deferment payment too.” present the fiscal deficit hov- Bhupesh Baghel To a question the official ers at 6.6 percent of the GDP. said that China will deposit $2 This condition was tough and sworn in as 3rd billion not in installments but now IMF authorities have most likely in one-go. He further stated to be showing flex- CM explained saying that apart from ibility in the said demand, the it, Pakistan authorities are also official said.(The News) : State Congress Presi- in process to finalise the pur- dent Bhupesh Baghel, credited chase of 15 billion RMBs (Yuan) with both the countries have got for powering the Congress to at commercial rate almost at the matured indicating that China a landslide victory in Chhat- cost of over $2 billion for trade and UAE are all set to come for- tisgarh, was on Monday sworn with China in local currency ward to bailout Pakistan from in as the third which will help Pakistan come the current economic morass. of the state, bringing to an end out of US dollar’s pressure too. Also Federal Commerce 15-year rule of the Bharatiya The official said that the Minister Razzak Dawood said Janata Party (BJP). latest statement by Asad Umar that Beijing offered Pakistan to Baghel, who represents that Pakistan is not in a hurry double its exports to China from Patan Assembly constituency in for the IMF bailout package $1.2 to $2.2 billion by end of on- Durg district, was administered indicates that impending relief going financial year 2018-19 and the oath of office and secrecy by from China and UAE to support in case Pakistan succeeds to do Governor in the the foreign reserves is on the that, China will also encourage presence of Congress President cards. Pakistan to increase it exports , former Prime The official, while refer- by one billion dollars more. Minister and ring to Asad Umar, the Finance In addition, Beijing also in- former Chief Minister and BJP Minister of Pakistan, who is also dicated to extend to Pakistan a veteran . (IANS) on the record saying balance of special quota for export of sugar payment issue is over, said that and rice which will also help Pa- Mr Umar was in knowledge that kistan have a massive surge in People burn placards and effigies of India’s main opposition Congress party’s leaders Sajjan Kumar and during a protest near things are moving with China exports to China. This will help Congress party’s headquarters in New Delhi, India, on Monday. (REUTERS) and UAE in positive trajectory reduce trade deficit with China Gehlot sworn and now behind-the-scene talks which stands at over $14 billion. IANS rific mass crimes enjoyed politi- in Rajasthan New Delhi BJP, SAD hail Sajjan conviction; cal patronage and were aided by an indifferent law enforcement CM, Pilot as Thirty-four years after the don’t politicise, says Congress agency.” gruesome killings, the Delhi New Delhi: The BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and several other The court convicted the Mumbai hospital blaze takes his deputy High Court on Monday convict- parties on Monday hailed the Delhi High Court verdict holding Congress leader under various ed Congress leader Sajjan Ku- Congress leader Sajjan Kumar guilty in the 1984 killing of Sikhs counts of Indian Penal Code six lives, leaves 147 injured mar in an anti-Sikh riot case of and sentencing him to imprisonment for life, while the Congress (IPC) including murder, crimi- IANS 1984 here and sentenced him to said the matter should not be politicised. The Congress also raked nal conspiracy, delivering pro- IANS fire was first noticed near Jaipur imprisonment for the remain- up the 2002 Gujarat riots demanding punishment for Bharatiya vocative speeches instigating Mumbai the operation theatre of the der of his natural life, holding Janata Party (BJP) leaders alleged to be involved in the communal violence against Sikhs, mischief five-storey hospital located Senior Congress leader that the violence was a “crime violence that claimed over 1,000 lives. BJP chief Amit Shah said by fire or explosive substance At least six persons were at Marol MIDC, an indus- was sworn against humanity” engineered that 1984 riot victims had lost all hopes of justice because those with intent to destroy house killed and 147 others, mostly trial hub in Andheri East. The in as Chief Minister of by politicians with assistance responsible for the crimes enjoyed “patronage of Congress leader- and injuring or defiling place of patients and staffers, injured blaze quickly spread horizon- Rajasthan for a third time from police. ship” and conviction of Sajjan has once again assured the victims worship with intent to insult the in a major fire that engulfed tally and vertically, trapping while Sachin Pilot took Setting aside the acquit- that criminals of 1984 will not go scot free. (IANS) religion of any class. the state government-run around 155 people. oath as Deputy Chief Min- tal of Sajjan Kumar, the court The CBI had filed an appeal Employees State Insurance Panicking, some patients ister at the Albert Hall convicted him and five others challenging the acquittal of Sa- Corporation (ESIC) Hospital and staffers did not wait for here on Monday. saying that the “criminals” had cember 31 and directed not to then Prime Minister, on Octo- jjan Kumar and said that the at Andheri East here on Mon- help and jumped out of the Governor Kalyan Singh escaped prosecution and pun- leave Delhi. ber 31, 1984, by two of her Sikh trial court “erred in acquitting day, officials said. fourth floor window. They administered the oath of ishment for over two decades. “In the summer of 1947, bodyguards, a communal fren- Sajjan Kumar as it was he who A majority of those in- suffered fractures, and at least office and secrecy to them “This court is of the view during partition, this country zy was unleashed. had instigated the mob during jured, who have been admit- one was killed. The fire bri- in the presence of Congress that the mass killings of Sikhs in witnessed horrific mass crimes “For four days between No- the riots”. ted to various hospitals in the gade team rushed to the spot President Rahul Gandhi Delhi and elsewhere in Novem- where several lakhs of civilians, vember 1 to November 4, all Sajjan Kumar and the oth- suburbs, were patients and with 12 fire tenders, 15 water and former Prime Minister ber 1984 were in fact ‘crimes including Sikhs, Muslims and over Delhi, 2,733 Sikhs were ers were charged with the kill- staffers. By late on Monday tankers and other specialised Manmohan Singh. against humanity’. They will Hindus, were massacred,” the brutally murdered. Their hous- ing of five Sikhs–Kehar Singh, night, around a dozen were equipment to battle the blaze. Among those who continue to shock the collective bench said. es were destroyed. In the rest Gurpreet Singh, Raghuvender treated and discharged. The firemen also used lad- were at the venue were conscience of society for a long “Thirty-seven years later, of the country too, thousands Singh, Narender Pal Singh and Informed official sources ders and ropes to bring down NCP chief , time to come,” a bench of Jus- the country was again witness of Sikhs were killed,” the bench Kuldeep Singh, who were mem- said the toll might increase the wailing and screaming Chief Ministers N. Chan- tice S. Muralidhar and Justice to another enormous human observed in its 203-page order. bers from the same family–by a as some of the injured were victims trapped on the third drababu Naidu (Andhra Vinod Goel said. Sajjan Kumar tragedy. Following the assas- The court said: “A majority mob in Delhi Cantonment’s Raj in a critical condition. The and fourth floors. Pradesh), H.D. Kumaras- was asked to surrender by De- sination of , the of the perpetrators of these hor- Nagar area on October 31, 1984. wamy (Karnataka) and V Narayanasamy (Puduch- erry), former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Philippine beauty queen crowned Miss Universe 2018 DMK leader M.K. Sta- lin, JMM leader Hemant AFP earned applause describing her Arena. During the competition, ways say: having a vagina didn’t Soren and Jharkhand Vi- Bangkok work in the slums of the Philip- which was broadcast live, can- transform me into a woman. kas Morcha chief Babulal pine capital Manila. didates were asked questions I am a woman, already before Marandi. Miss Philippines was crowned After winning she told re- on press freedom, legalisation birth, because my identity is Former Rajasthan Miss Universe on Monday in porters she would like to ex- of marijuana, refugees and the here,” Ponce said on Saturday, Chief Minister and BJP Bangkok after a trailblazing pand her work with an organi- #MeToo movement. This year’s gesturing to her head. leader ceremony praised for featuring sation in the Philippines that event drew positive feedback for She added she wanted her also attended the event its first transgender candidate promotes education on HIV themes of inclusivity and an all- appearance to be empowering along with Congress lead- but marred by gaffes about the and AIDS. women panel of judges made up and that she hoped for a “new ers , English-speaking ability of two “A few years ago I lost a of business leaders and former generation of human beings Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ku- Asian contestants. close friend to health complica- Miss Universe titleholders. who are raised a lot better, more mari Selja, Jitin Prasad Catriona Gray, 24, finished tions with HIV,” she said. Miss Spain’s Angela Ponce tolerant and respectful.” and Navjot Singh Sidhu. first ahead of the South African “So spreading awareness made history as the first But issues of tolerance The Congress rode to and Venezuelan finalists in the on that cause and encouraging Miss Philippines Catriona Gray reacts after being crowned Miss Uni- transgender candidate in a com- and respect came centre stage power in Rajasthan after glittering televised event hosted people to get the simple test and verse during the final round of the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, petition once owned by Presi- during the competition when five years, defeating the by American comic turned TV knowing their status is definitely Thailand, on Monday. (REUTERS) dent Donald Trump, whose Miss USA Sarah Rose Sum- Bharatiya Janata Party in host Steve Harvey and super- one of my first projects that I’d administration has attempted mers appeared to poke fun at Assembly elections. model Ashley Graham. like to pursue.” Gray–a student 90 contestants from around the Miss Universe, which was held to block military recruitment Miss Vietnam and Miss Cam- In the final round, Gray of music theory–beat more than globe in the 67th instalment of in the Thai capital’s Impact of transgender people. “I al- bodia on social media.