India’s economic growth will help neighbours: PM NEW DELHI, Nov 18: Observing that India’s economic growth will have a positive impact on its neighbourhood, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today made a pitch for opening up of access for trade with Afghanistan which is a gateway to the west as well. Inaugurating the crucial two-day international conference on Afghanistan here along with President Hamid Karzai, he said India as a "close and friendly neighbour" has a particular interest in that country and stands ready to play a leading role towards its reconstruction. "We look upon Afghanistan not only as a valued member of the South Asian fraternity but also as our gateway to the west," Singh told the second Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan being attended by ministers from 18 countries and top officials of 10 multilateral international institutions. Noting that India has traditionally been Afghanistan’s largest market, he said measures will need to be taken to facilitate trade and cross-border movement of goods and services, to minimise transaction costs and to harmonise regulations and practices with that country. He said these measures will not only increase legitimate trade, which today is overshadowed by cross-border smuggling, but also enhance the sense of security in Afghanistan. "Today, India is undergoing a process of transformation of its own and we hope to be able in the years to sustain high growth rates of 8-10 per cent," Singh said. Underlining that New Delhi’s vision of prosperity is not limited to its ownself but encompasses the region, the Prime Minister said, "I am convinced that sustained economic growth in India will have a positive impact on our neighbourhood and vice-versa." Singh said Afghanistan’s climate for business has "vastly improved" as its infrastructure has improved and has strategic location and resources. "I have a vision of bringing freedom, dignity and prosperity to the people of Afghanistan through a cooperative venture which unites all countries in the region in a collaborative effort," he said. Karzai said his Government will spare no effort to restore Afghanistan’s historical role as a land-bridge connecting the surrounding regions. "We have great assets for economic development, from our hugely untapped natural resources to our people who are young, dynamic and eager to learn and prosper," he said, adding "together we must utilise our assets to grow". He said "economic integration of our region, where each and all of our nations would have a part to play, is lofty but achievable vision." Singh said notwithstanding the remarkable transformation that has taken place in Afghanistan over the last five years, the country still faces many challenges. "We are concerned at the increasing terrorist violence in certain parts of southern and south eastern Afghanistan," the Prime Minister said, noting that it had not only undermined the security of that country but hindered the ongoing development effort. "Dealing with this challenge is our collective responsibility," he said. (PTI)
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Fresh snowfall in upper reaches Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 18: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway which was closed for vehicular traffic due to landslides and shooting of stones triggered by heavy rains since early this morning, was partially reopened for the passenger vehicles by this evening. Superintendent of Police (SP) Traffic National Highway, Suresh Kumar told the EXCELSIOR that heavy rainfall since last midnight triggered massive landslide at Nachlana and shooting of stones at Panthial in the wee hours of today thereby blocking the highway. As the highway got blocked badly, the Traffic Police personnel at Udhampur and Srinagar were asked not to allow fresh traffic from both sides. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) immediately pressed its men and machinery into service and by this afternoon landslide at Nachlana was cleared and some vehicles were allowed to cross Nachlana and Panthial areas. However, shooting of stones again started at Panthial forcing the Traffic Police to suspend vehicular movement. With the improvement in the weather at around 7 pm, the movement of passenger vehicles was allowed and within three to four hours all stranded Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) were cleared. However, the heavy passenger vehicles and trucks carrying essential commodities were not allowed to proceed. According to SP Traffic, 350 trucks were stranded at Chanderkote, 150 at Balli Nullah, 100 at Manwal and 80 at Banihal. He disclosed that trucks carrying essential commodities would be allowed to move tomorrow. He said that trucks carrying building materials and other related things would not be allowed to move. Our Srinagar Correspondent adds: The upper reaches in the Kashmir valley including the world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, Khilanmarg, Affarwat and Kongdori experienced fresh showfall while plains were lashed by rains resulting in further cold condition. The other tourist places of Pahalgam, Yusmarg and Deksum also had fresh snowfall. Reports said that rainfall in summer capital disrupted normal life. Almost all roads in the areas including Badshah Nagar, Natipora, Azad Basti, Bemina, Padshahi Bagh and Banapora Nowgam were under water as drainage system was not functioning properly. In Kargil, 10 trucks were stranded at Gumri, one at Captain Crossing and two at Shatan-Nullah. About 87 passengers in several vehicles were also stranded on the highway after fresh snowfall at different points. The reports said that about 50 light vehicles and the Army convoy stranded on the highway for the past five days reached Drass late last night. Drass, the world’s second coldest place after Siberia, experienced one feet of fresh snowfall since last evening. |
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Ration haul in Doda Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 18: A militant, who was surviving for last one week after being injured in an encounter with Army and police at Malla Parot between Khour and Sunderbani sector, was gunned down today by Army and police in Thong forest area near Dori Daggar in Khour sector. In Doda, police arrested an Over Ground Worker of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and recovered a large quantity of ration from a hide-out of the militants. Official sources said troops of Army’s 9 Raj Rifles and police were searching the militant after his associate was killed in an encounter at Malla Parot on November 13 afternoon. Searches were being conducted in the area falling between Khour and Sunderbani since then. This afternoon, the militants was spotted in Thong forest and was asked to surrender as he had sustained a gun shot in his leg. However, he opened firing with his AK rifle on the security personnel, who retaliated. In the exchange of firing, the militant was killed. SDPO Akhnoor Atul Sharma, led the police team. With this, the operation was successful as both militants, who had crossed over to Indian territory from Line of Control (LoC) between Khour and Sunderbani sectors last week, have been killed. On November 13 encounter when the first militant was killed, two Army jawans had also sacrificed their lives while a solder and two police personnel were injured. However, in today’s operation, security forces or police didn’t suffer any casualties. One AK rifle, five magazines, two grenades and three Motorola wireless sets have been recovered from the slain militant, whose identity hasn’t been established. Doda police today arrested an OGW of Lashkar outfit in whose house and encounter had taken place between militants and security forces on August 3 this year in which one Army jawan and a militant were killed and six soldiers were injured. He has been identified as Raees Ahmed Natnoo son of Abdul Rashid Natnoo R/o Gundana. A case against him has been registered. Sources said Raees Ahmed disclosed during questioning that he was providing shelter, food and financial assistance to the militants. More arrests were expected during his further disclosures. Doda police and security forces destroyed a hide-out of the militants at Katri Dhar in Gandoh area of Doda district and recovered 10 quintals rice, eight quintals atta, one quintal sugar, one tin mustard oil, 25 packets of dalda ghee, five kg desi ghee, 40 kg suji, 10 kg dry fruit, 80 litres kerosene oil and two ‘tarpals’. Hide-out of the militants was destroyed in the operation. One single barrel muzzle loading rifle was recovered by Territorial Army from Jamlan forest area. |
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BJP to raise Afzal in Parliament NEW DELHI, Nov 18: A NDA delegation, led by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani, today old Speaker Somnath Somnath Chatterjee that they would raise the internal security issue and the delay in the death sentence to Mohammad Afzal, convicted in the Parliament attack case, during the upcoming winter session of Parliament. The delegation, consisting of BJP Deputy Leader V K Malhotra, Santosh Kumar Gangwar and B K Tripathi of the Biju Janata Dal, called on the Speaker ahead of the Parliament session commencing from November 22. They also informed the Speaker about the BJP’s decision to move an adjournment motion to highlight the failures of the UPA Government on the front of internal security and the spurt in ISI-aided terrorist activities in almost all cities across the country. The date for the motion will be decided by the Speaker, Mr Malhotra said after the meeting. Mr Malhotra said the party would go ahead with its decision to organise a massive rally on November 22 outside Parliament demanding the execution of Afzal. The delay was to derive electoral benefits in the coming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttaranchal and Manipur due early next year, he alleged. He said the prices of essential commodities had shot up by 30 to 40 per cent ever since the UPA Government took over. The indiscriminate proliferation of SEZs in the country was not to promote exports but to misuse the concessions offered to these Zones. Issues concerning the claims made by China over Arunachal Pradesh and the outcome of the talks with Pakistan would be raised in Parliament, he said. The MPs would also raise the issue of corruption in various defence purchases during the UPA regime be it Scorpene deal or letting off the receiver of Bofors kickbacks Ottavio Quattrocchi by defreezing his London bank accounts, the senior BJP leader further said. The party would raise the issue of "defaming NDA Convenor George Fernandes" by dragging him in the FIR in the Barak navy missile purchases whereas the UPA Government too had purchased the same system during its tenure.(UNI) |
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Rs 3.05 lakh fake currency seized in City, 4 held Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 18: Police today busted a racket engaged in pumping fake currency in the city here and in the Kashmir Valley and apprehended four racketeers along with Rs 3.05 lakh. Fake currency was brought by the racketeers from Patna in Bihar, where it was being printed and sold in the State, SP City (North) Sanjay Kotwal, said. Mr Kotwal added that on a very specific information, City police laid a naka at Jewel Chowk where the consignment was delivered to a Kashmiri by a Bihari boy, who was running a ‘rehri’ but used to make trips to Patna to bring fake currency and hand over to racketeers here. SSP Jammu Mukesh Singh supervised the operation. Police parties, which made the arrests were led by SHO Nowabad Kulbir Handa and Incharge Talab Tillo police post Parvez Sajjad. On the basis of disclosures made by the person held at Jewel Chowk, police carried out a raid at Talab Tillo and apprehended three other persons, involved in the racket. Four arrested persons, from whose possession police recovered Rs 3.05 lakh worth fake currency, have been identified as Fayaz Ahmed son of Abdul Rehman Rather R/o Aung, Anantnag, Abdul Rashid son of Mohd Shabban R/o Salor Palgam, Anantnag, Mubarak Ahmed Bhat son of Mohd Mushtaq Bhat R/o Shalipura, Kulgam and Mohd Ayub son of Khizar Mohd R/o Thajwara, Anantnag. The fake currency recovered from the accused was in the denomination of 500 and 1000 notes. Police said a ‘rehriwalla’ from Patna, Bihar, who had smuggled the currency from Patna to Jammu managed to slip away during the operation. His identity has been established and he was being chased by police. According to police, the Kashmiri racketeers had to take the currency to Kashmir valley and circulate it. A part of the currency was to be given to a Talab Tillo based trader, who was yet to be arrested. They used to sell currency notes of Rs 1 lakh for Rs 70,000. Initially, one such consignment of fake currency was seized by police from Kashmir valley. That consignment had also been brought from Patna. It was on the disclosures of fake currency racketeers arrested in Kashmir that activities of the gang in Jammu were revealed. Accordingly, police laid a trap and finally apprehended the gangsters. Some more arrests in the racket were in the offing, police said. A case against the accused has been registered under FIR No. 174/06 and Sections 489-B and 389 RPC for further investigations at Nowabad police station. Jammu Police have also established a contact with their counterparts in Patna and sounded them about printing of fake currency there which was being circulated not only in Jammu and Kashmir but in other parts of the State as well. |
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Indian Express premises sealed NEW DELHI, Nov 18: The premises of Indian Express at the Qutab Institutional Area in South Delhi were today sealed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi(MCD) for allegedly operating illegally from the building allotted to a trust formed by former Union Minister Vasant Sathe. The MCD officials sealed two buildings in the morning. After the partition of the Goenka empire, the owners of the Express Group of Newspapers, the offices of the Indian Express and Financial Express, were shifted to two buildings in Qutab Institutional area from the Express Building at Bahadurshah Zafar Marg in Central Delhi a few years ago. The MCD authorities had sealed many premises in the area, including those of the Canara Bank Relief and Welfare Society, Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan Trust floated by famed Sarod player Amjad Ali Khan, Mamgyal Trust of the former ruler of Ladakh and Habitat India, since November 15. The High Court has granted two months time to the companies on rent to vacate the premises. On November 16, the Delhi High Court refused to grant a stay on sealing of the premises of Express Group Newspapers and had asked the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the land owning agency, to file a status report on the lease deed and land use. A bench of acting Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma asked the DDA to produce the records of the original allottees—societies or trusts— of the land at the Qutab Institutional Area at a concessional rate for carrying out voluntary works or social services. Counsel Rajive Bansal, appearing for the DDA, said the half-acre premise was allotted to Chatrapati Shivaji Foundation, formed by Mr Sathe for Rs 1.5 lakh. After a survey, the DDA found that the lease deeds of these premises had been violated and asked the MCD to seal the buildings, said Mr Bansal. The foundation had rented out the premises for commercial purposes to the newspaper group and there were lots of unauthorised constructions on the land, said Mr Bansal. Senior counsel Arun Jaitley, appearing for the foundation had argued that the DDA had given permission to the foundation to rent out 25 per cent of the premises and the newspaper would take steps to reduce its use to the permitted limit. Mr Jaitley said the DDA and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) did not have the authority to seal the premises, at best they could force the society/NGOs/trusts to adhere to the land use according to law. Mr Bansal submitted that all these buildings allotted to 26 trusts and societies had been rented out to various MNCs at an exorbitant price.(UNI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Nov 18: Militants tonight gunned down two civilians in their houses at Chak Nutnusa village, about 10 kms short of Kupwara on Srinagar-Kupwara road. The killed civilians have been identified as Mohammad Sultan Ganai, 48, son of Abdul Sattar Ganai and Manzoor Ahmed Mir son of Sona Ullah Mir, residents of Chak Nutnusa, official sources said. They said the militants first took dinner in the house of Ganai and later shot dead him at 9.45 pm. They also killed Manzoor Ahmed in his house and escaped. Police parties have reached the spot for investigations. |
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HM letter reveals shortage of cadre, finances By Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Nov 18: If a letter written by a Hizbul Mujahideen commander and seized recently by security forces is to be believed, the outfit has been running short of cadre and weaponry besides facing financial crunch, mainly after stoppage of "support to some extent" by Pakistan army. A letter written by Hizbul Mujahideen’s Hazrate Abubakre Sideeq Battalion, based somewhere in Darhal area of Rajouri district, was seized few days back by security forces from the possession of Abu Bakar (to whom the letter had been addressed), who was killed in an encounter with security forces in Poonch. Signed by Mohd Attaullah, an ‘area commander’ of the outfit and written in Urdu, the letter said people in most parts of Rajouri, falling under Abubakre Sideeq Battalion, hadn’t been co-operating with militants. "The people haven’t been co-operating with us. They have connived with the Army", Attaullah said in the letter. It added: "now we are depending on the people, who will return to plains from dhoks after snowfall and cold in the upper reaches. But to gain their support, we need money. Arrange funds for us as early as possible so that we could contact those people". Attaullah wrote in the letter that even some people, who have already returned from the dhoks, have refused to help the outfit in the absence of money. "We will pay them when the finances are arranged and seek their help", he said. "Instead of helping us", Attaullah wrote, "the people have started working for Army. In the recent past, many people have become informers of Army and other security agencies". In this regard, the letter mentioned the names of Mohd Iqbal and Wahid of Darhal saying they have now started working for Army while as earlier "they were working for us". Official sources said the Hizbul commander might be referring to help from the people in the form of shelter, food, guides and even throwing grenades on given targets. Attaullah referred to one Mahroof Raza in the letter saying he spoke to him on telephone few days back. "I have sought more weapons and explosives from him", he wrote. According to sources, Mahroof Raza was a ‘district commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen based in Pir Panjal range and was incharge of distributing arms, ammunition and explosives among the outfit’s cadre. In the letter, Attaullah has also admitted that this year, the Hizbul Mujahideen has suffered heavy losses in operations in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch but claimed that more ‘youths’ have come from across Line of Control (LoC) and reached their areas safely. "New youths are working hard and will start executing the tasks assigned to them shortly", the letter said. Attaullah also mentioned about one Bashir Ahmed saying he was alright. Sources said Bashir Ahmed was also a ‘district commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen operating in Budhal area. |
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DD to strengthen network in J&K JALANDHAR, Nov 18: Doordarshan will expand and strengthen its network in bordering State of Jammu and Kashmir and north eastern region. DD Director General Liladhar Mandloi said here today that the extension programme included inclusion of uncovered areas in the network and strengthening of DTH transmission facilities in these border areas. Mr Mandloi said a lot of work would be done during the eleventh plan for making DD a competent global channel. He said complete digitalisation of the network is also being done for improving efficiency and quality of transmission. He said that presently Doordarshan programmes are reaching 154 million viewers through 57 programme relay stations and around 1,400 transmitters in the country. (UNI) |
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Pak soldier deserts unit after affair with Maj's wife JAMMU, Nov 18: A Pakistani soldier, who fled to India after allegedly being threatened for having an affair with an officer’s wife there, has been arrested near the border in Poonch district. Banafar Khan, a Rifleman in EME unit of Pakistani army and a resident of Rawalakote in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, escaped and crossed the Line of Control at Makki Post in Poonch sector on Thursday night, officials said today. He was arrested by Army troops to whom he admitted he is a Pakistani soldier, they said. Khan told military interrogators that he had an affair with the wife of a Major in the EME unit in a camp in PoK. But the Major came to know of it and threatened to kill him after which he decided to cross over to this side, he told the Army officers.(PTI) |
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ISLAMABAD, Nov 18: A suicide bomber who "always talked of jihad" blew himself up in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, injuring two policemen, while 15 persons were hurt in a blast near Lahore’s Gaddafi Cricket Stadium. A suicide bomber, strapped with explosives and believed to be heading towards the Peshawar airport, triggered the blast yesterday when he was apprehended by a police patrol. The bomber who has been identified as 20-year-old Nadeem, an electrician by profession and resident of Pishtakhara Bala, detonated the bomb near a police van at Fayaz Khalil Shaheed Chowk, Peshawar operations SSP Iftikhar Khan was quoted as saying by the ‘Daily Times’. "Nadeem was killed in the attack and two policemen sitting in the vehicle were injured," he said, adding that police found an identity card from the spot. "Nadeem’s father Sarzameen Khan and his brother have been arrested and handed over to the Crime Investigation Agency for interrogation," M Azhar, duty officer at the Pishtakhara police station, said. Nadeem’s neighbour Ahmad Khan said Nadeem always talked about jihad. However, he did not know whether Nadeem was affiliated with any militant organisation. Peshawar police chief Haji Habibur Rehman claimed that the policemen were not Nadeem’s target. "Nadeem attacked the police when they suspected his movement," he said. Also in Lahore, 15 persons were injured when a bomb exploded in a garbage bin near a bus stop some 500 yards away from the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium last evening. Lahore police had earlier claimed that two people were killed and another 13 were injured in the explosion, but retracted the statement later, saying that only 15 people were injured in the incident, the Daily Times said. Bomb Disposal Squad officials said the locally-made bomb was a timed device and weighed one kilogramme. Punjab Additional IG Khawaja Khalid Farooq said the bomb was similar to the one that exploded in Liberty Market on August 29 in which four people were killed. (PTI) |
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COLOMBO, Nov 18: Sri Lankan Navy backed by helicopter gunships today fought a sea battle off the island’s North-Western Coast and sank three LTTE flotillas, slaying at least 15 tigers, while the rebels attacked two Naval vessels and killed 10 sailors. Also, four soldiers lost their lives when rebels set off a land mine blast while another four students were killed in firing by the Army in Vavuniya district of Northern Sri Lanka today, according to local officials. The Navy said it confronted a group of Tamil Tiger boats off the island’s North-Western Coast and sank three of them after receiving support from helicopter gunships and F-7 Chinese jets. At least 15 rebels were killed in the assault but the rebels said they suffered no losses. The Navy said four sailors were also wounded. However, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam said they sank two Naval patrol craft, killing at least 10 sailors. Claims and counter-claims by both sides cannot be independently verified. Rebels set off a powerful landmine in the Northern district of Vavuniya today, killing at least four soldiers and wounding two more, police said. They said four students were also killed and another 15 wounded following the blast near a farm and believed that they may have been hit in retaliatory firing by the troops. The Sri Lankan military accused the tigers of using the students as human shields to attack the Army.(PTI) |
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Operational readiness in Ladakh reviewed JAMMU, Nov 18: Details about the operational readiness of the 14 Corps, in-charge of Ladakh Frontier Region, were given to Army’s Eastern Command chief Lt Gen Arvind Sharma during his three-day visit to the region, a defence spokesman said today. Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Command, was briefed about the security situation of the region besides operational and administrative matters relating to 14 Corps, he added. Sharma, who left yesterday after the visit, also interacted with jawans and civilians to get an on-hand assessment of the situation in the strategic area. The former commander of Leh-based 14 corps also paid visit to the famous Hall of Fame (war memorial) and Zorawar fort located in the region. (PTI) ‘Kashmir
issue should not stop Pak, India NEW YORK , Nov 19: Asking the Musharraf regime to attack militancy which is holding peace between India and Pakistan hostage, former premier Benazir Bhutto has said the two countries need to move forward notwithstanding their differences on the Kashmir issue. "Irrespective of the differences on Kashmir, India and Pakistan have to move forward. One of the key ways that we can move forward is by copying Europe’s example. Europe was torn apart by war until it decided to build a common market," the Pakistan People’s Party leader told Newsweek magazine when asked about her views on Indo-Pak relations. Bhutto said she had spoken to Indian leaders on the issue and "within India and Pakistan there is an emerging consensus that while we have differences, these differences should not stop us from economic development and cooperation in terms of trade and travel. But obviously we need safe borders. While militants hold guns in their hands and disturb the peace, it is very difficult to get safe and open borders." "Attacking militancy is important, not only vis-a-vis Afghanistan, but also vis-a-vis India," she stressed. The former Pakistani Premier also noted that "militant groups that were (once) banned- who were attacking New Delhi, Bombay- are re-emerging and hold peace between India and Pakistan hostage. When I look at the rise of religious parties, the reorganisation of the Taliban and the persistence of the militant groups, I worry for Pakistan’s future". Bhutto said she plans to return to Pakistan to help her party in the next general elections and would run for the post of Prime Minister if the term limitation which prohibits a person to hold that office more than twice is lifted. Asked why Pakistan has not been able to capture terror mastermind Osama bin Laden, Bhutto said elements of the Pakistani military security apparatus have a lot of sympathy for him. "General Musharraf is relying on the [military] to find bin Laden, and it’s simply not going to happen. What we really need is a change, and I believe that change has to come by going to the civilian option," she added. Asked to rate the performance of Musharraf as a partner of the United States in the fight against terror, Bhutto said he took the right decision following the events of 9/11 to stand with the international community to fight terrorism. "But I question how effective he has been in eliminating terrorism. There is a lack of implementation of his decisions in many parts of the country, and we have seen in [recent] years how the Taliban have reorganized themselves and their goal is to take over Afghanistan once again," she said. The religious parties, Bhutto added, have gained strength within Pakistan and "today control two of our most important provinces that border Afghanistan." Asked whether she initially supported the Taliban, Bhutto said when the Taliban first emerged, the United States, Pakistan and many other countries saw them as a force for peace, but "soon we became disillusioned." "There’s a difference between Taliban with Al- Qaeda and Taliban without Al-Qaeda. When the first Taliban emerged, there was no Al Qaeda. They were there as Afghans trying to be a political force within Afghanistan," she said. Asked about her relations with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Bhutto said, "we need to reverse the culture of violence and replace it with a culture of law tolerance. But current Pakistani administration’s power flows from the gun". She said when she met Sharif in Saudi Arabia, she had told him that people inside and outside Pakistan are concerned that they spend so much time fighting each other and restoration of democracy might be followed by another round of senseless political battles. "We came up with a Charter of Democracy [which is] aimed at creating a political system of checks and balances. In Pakistan, politics is a zero-sum game, but we believe that there should be a place within the system for divergent political views," she said. Replying to a question, she said her party and the alliance with Sharif are working to put an end to the term limits which would keep them from becoming prime minister again. "We feel that it should be left to the people of Pakistan. It’s not like America, where a president is elected and he completes [one or] two terms. Our terms are interrupted, so they don’t really qualify in the American sense of two terms," she said. Asked about corruption in her administration, she asserted that the allegations were made to destroy her reputation. Despite the rules being stacked against me, none of the courts were able to convict me". "Since 1950, corruption charges have been made against every civilian prime minister. I believe it’s to divert attention from the institutionalized corruption of the military," she added. (PTI) |
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