MUSHARRAF TO FACE BENAZIR MURDER TRIAL
The son of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari termed the verdict in the murder case of his mother ‘disappointing and unacceptable.’
Bilawal took to Twitter to state that the decision was not only unjust but also dangerous and the PPP would explore legal options.
SMBB case decision is disappointing & unacceptable. Realse of terrorists not only unjust but also dangerous. PPP will explore legal options.
The daughters of the former prime minister also expressed their reservations regarding the verdict.
There will be no justice till Pervez Musharraf answers for his crimes !
Aseefa Bhutto Zardari stressed that there would be no justice until former military dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf answered for his crimes.
Sindh government will request the federal government to get General (retd) Pervez Musharraf arrested by Interpol in Benazir Bhutto murder case, said Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah.
Speaking to the media at his residence in Rohri on Sunday, the provincial information minister said attempts were made to eradicate evidence after Benazir Bhutto’s martyrdom. He added they were also wary of the terrorists acquitted by the court, therefore, were discussing the matter with legal experts.
The minister maintained they would request the federal government to arrest Musharraf through Interpol.
Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has said, he would return to Pakistan to face trial in connection with the assasination of ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto. In a statement issued to the media today, the former army chief said, he will certainly come back to Pakistan and face the trial after he feels medically fit.
Musharraf said the verdict of the Rawalpindi Anti Terrorism Court was not against him.
“I will certainly come back to Pakistan and face the trial, as and when I am medically fit,” he said.
“I have been framed in the Benazir Bhutto murder case by way of political victimisation, while I had nothing to do with her untimely and tragic death,” he said.
“I have not been the beneficiary of prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s murder and the entire case as pitched against me is materially false, fictitious, fabricated, and is a result of political intrigue,” the former army chief said.
The anti-terrorism court branded Musharraf an absconder and ordered the confiscation of his property.
The verdicts are the first to be issued since Bhutto was killed in a gun and suicide bomb attack nearly a decade ago, sparking street violence and plunging Pakistan into months of political turmoil.
Musharraf — the former president and military ruler — is alleged to have been part of a broad conspiracy to have his political rival killed before elections. He has denied the allegation.
A Pakistani court on Thursday pronounced Musharraf a fugitive in the murder trial, however, it acquitted five men accused of being involved in the 2007 murder case.
Musharraf said, he has not been the beneficiary of Bhutto’s murder and the entire case as pitched against him is materially false, fictitious and fabricated.
The former president is alleged to have been part of a broad conspiracy to have his political rival killed before elections. He was charged with murder, criminal conspiracy for murder, and facilitation for murder in 2013.
NAVEEN JINDAL & OTHERS GRANTED BAIL
Industrialist Naveen Jindal and others were today granted bail by a special court in a case related to the allocation of a coal block in Madhya Pradesh. Special Judge Bharat Parashar granted the relief to them
on a personal bond of Rs one lakh each and one surety of like amount. The court has now posted the matter for further hearing on October 31.
on a personal bond of Rs one lakh each and one surety of like amount. The court has now posted the matter for further hearing on October 31.
Besides Jindal, others who got the relief include Jindal Steel and Power Ltd’s (JSPL) former Director Sushil Maroo, former Deputy MD Anand Goyal and CEO Vikrant Gujral. The accused were summoned for alleged offences of cheating and criminal conspiracy in the allocation of Urtan
North coal block in Madhya Pradesh.
North coal block in Madhya Pradesh.
In its charge sheet, the CBI has alleged that JSPL misrepresented the equipment purchase orders and misled the Coal Ministry. Jindal is also facing trial in a case pertaining to the allocation of Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand.
EIGHT CORE SECTORS SLIPS TO 2.4%
The country’s eight infrastructure sectors grew 2(point)4 per cent in July this year. The infrastructure sector had expanded 3.1 per cent in July last year, and had grown 0.8 per cent in June this year. According to official data, coal production increased 0.7 per cent in July this year, natural gas output grew 6.6 per cent, steel production rose 9.2 per cent, and electricity generation climbed 5.4 per cent. But, crude oil output decreased 0.5 percent in July, petroleum refinery output declined 2.7 per cent, fertilizer production fell 0.3 per cent, and cement production dropped 2 per cent during the month.
INDIA ONLY COUNTRY TO INFLICT 5-0 ON SRI LANKA
India has whitewashed host Sri Lanka 5-nil in One Day International cricket series. Yesterday, in the fifth and final match at Colombo the men in blue beat the host by six-wickets. By winning all games, India became the first visiting country to inflict a 5-0 defeat on Sri Lanka.
Skipper Virat Kohli made unbeaten 110. The stage was set by Kohli and Manish Pandey who scored 36 with a 99-run stand for the third wicket. Kohli got able support from Kedar Jadhav who made 63. Their partnership added 109 runs for the fourth wicket.
Earlier for India, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the highest wicket-taker with a tally of 5 for 42. Electing to bat, the hosts were all for 238 in 49.4 overs.
Virat Kohli scored his 30th one-day international century to lead India to victory in the fifth and final one-day match on Sunday as the visitors won by six wickets to complete a 5-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Sri Lanka elected to bat and were going steady at 185-4, with Angelo Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne notching up half-centuries, host collapsed in the final 11 overs as they lost six wickets for 53 runs.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, was named the man of the match, marked his maiden ODI five-wicket haul as powerful performances from him and spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah limited the hosts to 238 all out.
The opening batsmen Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma fell early to leave India at 29-2 but impressive play from Kohli, who scored 110 off 116 balls, and Kedar Jadhav, who scored 63 off 73 balls, led them to victory.
Kohli’s second consecutive century of the series moved him to level with former Australian captain Ricky Ponting for the most ODI centuries. The duo is joint second with 30 centuries each while Indian ace Sachin Tendulkar holds the record with 49.
Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the first wicketkeeper to collect 100 ODI stumpings, surpassing Sri Lanka’s retired captain Kumar Sangakkara.
With India whitewashed the hosts 3-0 in the preceding test series, prompting the entire selection panel to resign.
Sri Lanka’s 2019 World Cup participation is now uncertain as they failed to get the number of victories required for automatic qualification.
The two teams will play a Twenty20 international on Wednesday at the same venue.
India had, earlier, also whitewashed the 3-match Test series. They will conclude the tour on Wednesday after the lone Twenty-20 match to be played at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The Match will start at seven PM.
INDONESIA FOREIGN MINISTER TO MYANMAR
Indonesian President, Joko Widodo sent his Foreign Minister to Myanmar to urge its government to end human rights violations against Rohingya Muslims.
Official sources in Jakarta said Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi is trying to arrange talks with Myanmar’s de facto leader, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. The foreign minister hopes to halt conflict between Myanmar’s security forces and Rohingya militants.
The conflict broke out in Rakhine State in western Myanmar last month when Rohingya militants attacked police posts. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates at least 58,000 Rohingyas had fled to neighboring Bangladesh by Friday to escape the violence.
AN EMERGENCY DECLARED IN LOS ANGELES
A state of emergency has been declared in Los Angeles as the city battles the worst wildfires in its history.
Hundreds of homes have been evacuated around the Glendale and Burbank suburbs. The fires, covering about 5,000 acres, started in La Tuna Canyon on Friday and have sent plumes of smoke over the city. At least three homes have already been destroyed and a major road, the 210 Freeway, closed.
Mayor Eric Garcetti declared an emergency on Saturday night and a further emergency order was made by California Governor Jerry Brown yesterday. The declarations allow state and federal funds to be provided as soon as possible.
DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCES, WE MUST SPEAK IN ONE VOICE: XI AT BRICS:
Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at the BRICS Plenary Session:
– As the world undergoes profound changes, BRICS cooperation has become more important.
– Despite our differences in national conditions, our five countries are in similar stage of development and share same development cause.
– We should speak with one voice and jointly present our solutions to issues concerning international peace and development.
– Pleased to note important consensus reached at leadership level on closer people to people exchanges, being translated into reality.
– Our ever closer ties with rest of the world require that we five countries play a more active part in global governance.
– Without our participation, many pressing global challenges cannot be effectively resolved. — ANI
