Soon they began beating the four women, stripped them and dragged them through the market…reports Asian Lite News.
The police in Pakistan have arrested five men on charges of assaulting, stripping and filming four women in Faisalabad’s Bawa Chak Market, the Dawn reported.
The matter had surfaced after a video of the four women went viral on social media.
According to the FIR, the complainant, a garbage-picker, went to the Bawa Chak Market with three other women to collect garbage on Monday at around 10:30 am.
She told the police that they were thirsty and went inside a shop, Usman Electric Store, and asked for a bottle of water from one of the suspects, Saddam, whom they identified as the owner of the shop. But Saddam began shouting at them, accusing them of entering his shop with the intention to steal, the FIR said, adding that other suspects also reached the shop upon hearing him shouting, the report said.
Soon they began beating the four women, stripped them and dragged them through the market.
“They continued to beat us for around an hour and made our videos in naked condition,” the FIR quoted the complainant as saying.
Later, some family members of the victims reached the market and passersby gathered at the spot who pleaded to the suspects to let the women go, according to the FIR, the report added.
“The suspects committed gross injustice by stripping us, dragging us through the market and torturing us and strict action should be taken against them,” the complainant said in the FIR.
According to a tweet by Pakistan Punjab Police, two of the suspects were arrested on Monday night and three others were arrested on Tuesday.
Pakistan’s Punjab govt launches two new initiatives to promote investment at EXPO 2020
As part of its participation in the Expo 2020 Dubai, Pakistan’s Punjab government has launched two new initiatives in the UAE to promote and facilitate investments and growth of start-ups…reports Asian Lite News
The first initiative is the Investment Portal, an online resource centre to aid investors and businesspeople in Pakistan and abroad. This is being launched in parallel with the start-up moot and project exhibitions being displayed at the Pakistan Pavilion.
Pakistan’s Punjab govt launches two new initiatives to promote investment at EXPO 2020
The second initiative is the UAE Help Desk, an office space being set up in the Emirates, by the Government of Punjab that aims to attract investment to Punjab from the UAE business community.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Industries, Commerce, Investment, and Skill Development Department of Punjab, Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal at a ceremony in Dubai. The Ambassador of Pakistan to the UAE, Afzaal Mahmood was also present.
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Channi on Saturday approved the PSPCL’s proposal to terminate GVK Goindwal Sahib (2×270 MW) power purchase agreement (PPA)…reports Asian Lite News
Subsequently, the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) has issued termination notice to the company.
A preliminary default notice was served by the PSPCL to GVK for cancellation of PPA due to high power cost.
Punjab scraps pact with GVK thermal plant
An official statement quoting Channi said this step had been taken to safeguard the interest of consumers by way of reducing the burden of costly power.
A spokesperson for the Chief Minister’s Office said the basic premise of entering into the PPA by GVK with the PSPCL was to provide cheaper power. GVK had been generating energy by arranging coal from the Coal India Ltd under SHAKTI Policy.
As per the PPA, GVK was required to arrange a captive coal mine but it failed to do so, even after the lapse of more than five years of synchronization with the grid, he added.
The spokesman said the capacity charges are being decided by Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) based on capital cost of around Rs 3,058 crore, which is equivalent to about Rs 1.61 per unit of fixed cost.
Going against this decision, the spokesperson said GVK had moved to the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) for claiming higher fixed cost to the tune of Rs 2.50 per unit based on claims of capital cost of about Rs 4,400 crore which is pending adjudication.
As per claims made by GVK, the spokesman pointed out that variable cost is around Rs 4.50 per unit and fixed cost is around Rs 2.50 per unit. Thus, the total claim of GVK under tariff comes out around Rs 7 per unit that increased further due to surrender of its costly power.
The former Chief Minister also said he is hopeful of a seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP for next year’s Assembly elections in the state…reports Asian Lite News
Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh may announce the launch of his own political party on Wednesday.
An indication in this regard came on Tuesday when his media advisor Raveen Thukral extended an invite to the media for Amarinder Singh’s press briefing in Chandigarh.
Formally saying goodbye to the Congress which made him the Chief Minister of Punjab twice and the state party president thrice, an ‘upset’ Amarinder Singh last week said that he would soon announce the launch of his own political party to serve the interests of the people, including the farmers who’ve been fighting for their rights for over a year now.
The former Chief Minister also said he is hopeful of a seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP for next year’s Assembly elections in the state, if the farmers’ issues are resolved in their interest.
Without mincing words, Amarinder Singh added that he would not rest until he can secure the future of his people and his state.
“Punjab needs political stability and protection from internal and external threats. I promise my people that I will do what it takes to ensure peace and security, which is today at stake,” read an earlier tweet, quoting Amarinder Singh.
Since his resignation as the Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh has been targeting state Congress President Navjot Sidhu by publically saying that he would fight his possible elevation to the chief ministership tooth and nail, and is ready to make any sacrifice to save the country from such a ‘dangerous man’.
He has also claimed that the Gandhi siblings (Priyanka and Rahul) were “quite inexperienced” and “their advisors were clearly misguiding them”.
After months of infighting within the Congress, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had submitted his resignation on September 18.
Pakistan is witnessing a continuous rise of dengue cases and in the last 24 hours, an additional 832 people were infected in different areas of the country…reports Asian Lite News
The new cases were detected in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, as well as in the capital city of Islamabad, reports Xinhua news agency.
In Islamabad, 118 new cases were reported in the past 24 hours, including 79 recorded in the suburbs, bringing the city’s total tally to 2,721, District Health Officer Zaeem Zia told local media.
Pak witness rise in dengue cases
In the cited period, 168 more dengue cases were detected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, taking the total number of infections to 4,672 in the province, local media said.
Five people have died from the disease in the province and 214 patients are currently hospitalized.
Meanwhile, 546 more dengue cases were recorded in Punjab, a health official told local media, adding that 361 of them were found in the provincial capital Lahore.
According to the official data, the total number of dengue cases across the province have risen to 9,491, with 6,294 of them reported in Lahore alone.
The Pakistani government is taking special measures at the dengue hotspots in order to curb the spread of the disease.
A day earlier Channi said he has spoken to Sidhu and invited him to have a chat and sort out differences, if any…reports Asian Lite News.
The crisis in the Punjab Congress between Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and state chief Navjot Singh Sidhu seems to be continuing despite their first face-to-face meeting on Thursday since the latter resigned from the post.
The meeting lasted for over two hours and the issues raised by Sidhu will be put before the Cabinet on October 4, sources in the party said.
After the meeting at Punjab Bhavan, where AICC observer Harish Chaudhary was also present, both Channi and Sidhu left the meeting venue without talking to the media.
After meeting the Chief Minister, Sidhu held a closed-door meeting with his close confidantes, legislators Pargat Singh, Raj Kumar Verka, and Kuljit Nagra.
A day earlier Channi said he has spoken to Sidhu and invited him to have a chat and sort out differences, if any.
“Whoever is party President is head of the family. I had called him and told him that the party is supreme. I have spoken to him on phone and told him to let’s sit, talk it out and resolve the issue,” he had told the media here.
Days after the ‘deadlock’ between Channi and Sidhu over the appointments of the Director General of Police and Advocate General, besides re-induction of a ‘tainted’ legislator in the Cabinet, Sidhu, ahead of the meeting, indicated that he was ready to end the impasse.
He especially came from his hometown Patiala to meet Channi in Chandigarh.
Ahead of the meeting, Sidhu tweeted: “Chief Minister has invited me for talks will reciprocate by reaching Punjab Bhawan, Chandigarh at 3:00 PM today, he is welcome for any discussions !”
A day after his resignation as the Congress chief, Sidhu on September 29 said he will fight for truth till his last breath as the fight is for principles that he won’t compromise with.
“I will fight for truth until my last breath,” Sidhu had said in a video message posted on his Twitter handle.
“It is not a personal battle but a fight for principles. I won’t compromise on principles,” Sidhu had said categorically.
Without mincing words, he had said he would not accept tainted ministers being brought back into the newly constituted state cabinet led by Channi.
In the video message in Punjabi, the cricketer-turned-politician, who said his only religion is to make people’s lives better, had said he had fought for justice and for Punjab’s agenda.
Unhappy over the expansion, allocation of portfolios and appointments on crucial posts, including the Advocate General, Sidhu on September 28 resigned from his post after remaining at the helm for 71 days.
As his decision pushed the state Congress into deeper crisis, Sidhu, however, maintained that he would not be leaving the party.
Sources said that both the leaders discussed several issues, including national security, farmers’ agitation and the current political situation in Punjab…reports Asian Lite News.
Amid speculation of him joining the BJP, former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday evening. The meeting lasted for around an hour at Shah’s official residence here.
However, Singh’s media advisor Raveen Thukral had then denied the former meeting Shah and BJP chief J.P. Nadda, saying he’s on a personal visit to Delhi to meet ‘some friends’.
On Wednesday, Singh tweeted after the meeting with Shah: “Met Union Home Minister @AmitShah in Delhi. Discussed the prolonged farmers’ agitation against #FarmLaws & urged him to resolve the crisis urgently with repeal of the laws & guarantee MSP, besides supporting Punjab in crop diversification.”
Sources said that both the leaders discussed several issues, including national security, farmers’ agitation and the current political situation in Punjab.
There is also speculation that Singh, who was recently asked to resign as Punjab Chief Minister by the Congress leadership, may join the saffron party or float his own outfit. The BJP is ready to welcome him, saying Singh is a nationalist and all nationalists are welcomed in the party.
“Amarinder Singh is nationalist to the core and he always stood for nationalist issues. Apart from his political agenda, he always stood for nationalist issues. All nationalists are welcome to meet the Home Minister. On one hand, the Congress has insulted a nationalist solider and on the other, it inducted a member of ‘tukde tukde gang’. Our doors are open for all the nationalists,” BJP national spokesperson R.P. Singh said.
The BJP leaders, however, are tightlipped about Singh joining the party. A party leader said that the decision, if any, will be taken by the central leadership and it will be communicated to everyone at an appropriate time.
When asked whether Singh will join the BJP, the party’s national general secretary and Punjab in-charge Dusyant Gautam said, “Let’s see. All those who talk in the national interest are welcome to join the party.”
Sources said that the main agenda of discussion during Wednesday’s meeting was the ongoing farmers’ protest in the Punjab.
“Singh can play an important role in pacifying the farmers, who are protesting for almost a year against the three farm laws. He can also convince them to end the ongoing protest,” the sources said.
Governor Banwarilal Purohit administered the oath of office to the new ministers at a simple ceremony held in the lawns of Raj Bhavan…reports Asian Lite News
Ahead of Assembly elections slated in February-March 2022, new Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, expanded his council of ministers on Sunday with induction of 15 ministers, including six first-timers.
Several ministers from the previous Amarinder Singh government were retained including both women ministers Aruna Chaudhary, who is related to Channi, and Razia Sultana, a prominent Muslim face.
Governor Banwarilal Purohit administered the oath of office to the new ministers at a simple ceremony held in the lawns of Raj Bhavan.
Two-time MLAs Pargat Singh (Jalandhar Cantonment), Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, 43, (Gidderbaha) and Gurkirat Singh Kotli, 48, (Khanna), four-time MLA Kaka Randeep Singh Nabha, 54, (Amloh) and three-time MLAs Raj Kumar Verka, 58, (Amritsar-West) and Sangat Singh Gilzian, 68 (Urmar) were the new faces in the Cabinet.
Verka is a Valmiki community leader, while Gilzian represents the other backward classes. The others are Jat Sikhs.
Two-time MLA Kuljit Nagra (Fatehgarh Sahib) was a frontrunner for a Cabinet berth. His name was dropped at the last moment despite his proximity with Rahul Gandhi.
However, Nagra and Gilzian were recently picked as Working Presidents of the state unit.
Pargat Singh, an Akali Dal rebel, is the hockey Olympian-turned-bureaucrat-turned-politician. He was appointed as the state General Secretary.
Kotli and Warring began their political career by working as a student union leaders.
Kotli’s grandfather, the late Beant Singh, was the Chief Minister from 1992 to 1995. His father Tej Parkash Singh served as the state Transport Minister.
Handpicked by Rahul Gandhi, young leader Warring made his debut in the Assembly by defeating then People’s Party of Punjab chief Manpreet Singh Badal, who is now in the Congress, from Gidderbaha in 2012. He was the Indian Youth Congress president in 2014.
Five ministers from the previous Amarinder Singh Cabinet were dropped. They were Balbir Sidhu, Gurpreet Kangar, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, and Sundar Sham Arora.
However, Brahm Mohindra (six-time MLA), Manpreet Badal (five-time MLA), Tript Rajinder Bajwa (four-time MLA), as well as Chaudhary, Razia Sultana, and Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria (all three-time MLAs), Bharat Bhushan Ashu (two-time MLA), and Vijay Inder Singla (first time MLA) were retained.
Mohindra, Singla and Ashu, the prominent Hindu faces, are known for their proximity to Amarinder Singh.
Shiromani Akali Dal rebel Badal, who was the Finance Minister in the previous Amarinder Singh government and in the previous SAD government led by Prakash Singh Badal, played a crucial role for getting Channi at the helm owing to his proximity with Rahul Gandhi. He is likely to retain the same portfolio.
Former Irrigation Minister Rana Gurjeet Singh made a surprise comeback after four years despite objections raised by at least six legislators. He was inducted after at the expense of Nagra.
A minister in Amarinder Singh’s Cabinet, he had stepped down after an alleged scam regarding allotment of sand mines.
Channi, 58, was sworn in as Chief Minister on September 20 along with his two deputies — Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and O.P. Soni, both ministers in previous Council of Ministers.
Amarinder Singh resigned as Chief Minister on September 18 after months of political tussle with state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, saying he stepped down as he felt “humiliated”.
Indicating that he is still keeping his political options open, he said he was talking to his friends before deciding on his future course of action.
Channi a three-time MLA from Rupnagar’s Chamkaur Sahib – is Punjab’s first Dalit Chief Minister. He has served as Technical Education Minister in the Captain Amarinder Singh government…reports Asian Lite News.
Charanjit Singh Channi was sworn in as Chief Minister of Punjab on Monday. Governor Banwarilal Purihot also administered the oath of office to Congress leaders Sukhjinder S Randhawa and OP Soni as ministers in the state cabinet.
Charanjit Singh Channi takes oath as Punjab CM (Pallav Paliwal)
The swearing-in ceremony at Raj Bhawan in Chandigarh was attended by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Punjab Congress in Charge Harish Rawat and Punjab Pradesh Congress Commitee (PPCC) Navjot Singh Sidhu.
On Sunday, Channi was unanimously elected as the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party of Punjab and is set to take over as next Chief Minister following Captain Amarinder Singh’s resignation.
Channi a three-time MLA from Rupnagar’s Chamkaur Sahib – is Punjab’s first Dalit Chief Minister. He has served as Technical Education Minister in the Captain Amarinder Singh government.
According to the official website of the Punjab Government, Channi remained Municipal Councilor for three terms and moved on to become the President of Municipal Council Kharar for a two-term.
He was elected to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha from Chamkaur Sahib Consistency for the first time in 2007. He was elected to the assembly seat again in 2012 and then in 2017. In 2015, Channi was elected as Leader of the Opposition in the 14th Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
Charanjit Singh Channi takes oath as Punjab CM (Pallav Paliwal)
In 2017, he was appointed as the Cabinet Minister for Technical Education and Industrial Training, Employment Generation and also Science and Technology in the government of Punjab.
On Sunday, after several rounds of parleys, Channi was selected for the post by the party high command, following Captain Amarinder Singh’s resignation.
Amarinder Singh on Saturday submitted his resignation to state Governor Banwarilal Purohit, following months of infighting between him and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.
These developments come months before the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections.
After stepping down from the post, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said he resigned as he felt humiliated, reports Asian Lite News
Just minutes ahead of the crucial Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting on Saturday, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh reached the Governor’s house and submitted his and his council of ministers resignation to him.
“CM @capt_amarinder has met Punjab Governor and submitted his and his council of ministers’ resignation,” the Chief Minister Media Advisor Raveen Thukral informed in a tweet.
Earlier in the day, the party’s high command is said to have conveyed to the Chief Minister to resign to enable the election of a new incumbent.
However, the Chief Minister ‘threatened’ to quit the party for being humiliated.
Amarinder Singh submits resignation to Governor
“Amarinder Singh spoke to Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the morning and told her he is being humiliated and he will resign from the party,” a close confidant of the Chief Minister, said.
According to some senior party leaders, the high command has categorically asked Amarinder Singh to step down.
The minute-by-minute changing political development began at about 11.42 p.m. on Friday when Punjab Congress in-charge Harish Rawat tweeted about the decision to hold an urgent CLP meeting on Saturday.
Almost 10 minutes later state party chief Navjot Sidhu directed all the MLAs to be present at the CLP meeting.
The announcement by Rawat is being seen as an indication from the high command to appoint the new incumbent under whose helm the party will go to the Assembly polls, slated in March 2022.
Navjot Sidhu
Responding to the political developments, former state President Sunil Jakhar tweeted: “Kudos to Sh Rahul Gandhi for adopting Alexandrian solution to this Punjabi version of Gordian knot.”
“Surprisingly, this bold leadership decision to resolve Punjab Congress imbroglio has not only enthralled Congress workers but has sent shudders down the spines of Akalis.”
The decision to call the CLP comes in the wake of the fresh letter signed by a majority of legislators who expressed dissatisfaction with Amarinder Singh and demanding his removal from the Chief Minister’s post.
Meanwhile, AICC’s deputed party general secretary Ajay Maken and Harish Chowdhry reached Chandigarh as central observers for the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting slated in the evening. State party in charge Harish Rawat is also reaching here.
