Deadly assault on Pak Uni

A group of militants stormed a university in volatile northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing at least 19 people and wounding dozens as the Army hunted for any gunmen still holed up on the campus, officials said.

A security official said the death toll could rise to as high as 40 as the Army cleared out student hostels and classrooms.

“Our four suicide attackers carried out the attack on Bacha Khan University today,” Umar Mansoor, a commander in the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistani (TTP) militant group told AFP by phone from an undisclosed location.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party strongly condemns the terrorist attack on Bacha Khan University.

According to ‘AFP’, the operation has ended and the death toll in Pakistan university attack stands at 21 as of now. Meanwhile, Army continues to search block by block of the university.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan will visit Charsadda today.

Reports say that Pakistani Army has confirmed that snipers have killed two more terrorists. Four terrorists killed so far.

Deputy Inspector General Saeed Wazir says 70 percent of students have been rescued.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Paksitan claims responsibility for Bacha Khan University terror attack.

Pakistan Nawaz Sharif condemns the terror attack and said the sacrifice of the deceased will not go in vain. “We are determined and resolved in our commitment to wipe out the menace of terrorism from our homeland. The countless sacrifices made by our countrymen will not go in vain,” a statement issued on behalf of the Pakistan PM said.

Pakistan police say they have killed two of the militants who stormed the university.

Pakistan media reports that 60-70 students were shot in the head by terrorists.

Speaking to Reuters, Deputy Inspector General Saeed Wazir said the Army and police had moved into the university and a gunfight with the attackers was under way. He said it was unclear how many gunmen were involved.

One professor is reported to be killed in the attack.

Pakistan media reports that 50 have been injured in the terror attack and have been shifted to Charsadda District HQ hospital

Media reported that three gunmen entered the Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and opened fire on students and teachers in classrooms and hostels.

The Bacha Khan University in Charsadda is about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the city of Peshawar.

Reports say that firing was still going on inside the campus where students, teachers and administration staff are present.

Television images showed female students clutching hands as they fled the university, with traffic blocked on the roads of Charsadda as security forces rushed towards the campus.

According to some reports two explosions were heard inside the university.

Geo TV reports that five injured have been taken out from the university.

It further said that over 3000 students were present inside the university when the attack happened.

Security officials have cordoned off the area and students are being evacuated from classes.

Peshawar was the location of Pakistan`s deadliest ever extremist attack, when Taliban gunmen stormed an army-run school in December last year and slaughtered more than 150 people, most of them children, in an hours-long siege.

 



Singapore arrests 27 Bangladeshi Islamists, deports 26

Singapore, a wealthy multi-ethnic city state, arrested 27 Bangladeshi construction workers who supported Islamist groups including al Qaeda and Islamic State and deported 26 of them, the government said on Wednesday.

 The 27 were arrested in November and December, the home ministry said. Twenty-six were deported, while the last one was jailed for attempting to leave Singapore illegally after hearing of the arrest of the others, the home ministry said.

The investigation revealed that several members of the group had considered carrying out armed violence overseas, but did not plan any attack in Singapore. Some of them had contemplated taking part in armed jihad in the Middle East, the ministry said.

“I appeal that we be more vigilant, whether against radical teachings and ideologies, or of any suspicious activities around us,” Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim said on his Facebook page.

“At the same time, I hope we will remain united and not resort to discriminating (against) foreign workers here.”

Singapore broke up plots for militant attacks after the Sept. 11, 2001, al Qaeda attacks on the United States. Recently, concern has been growing in countries around the world about individuals joining the cause of the Islamic State.

The Bangladeshis were encouraged to return home and wage armed jihad against the government in Dhaka, and tried to recruit other Bangladeshis to their group, the ministry said.

The announcement came a week after an attack by suicide bombers and gunmen in the heart of Jakarta, the capital of neighbouring Indonesia, highlighting the growing threat Southeast Asia faces from radicalised Muslims.



PM Narendra Modi launches Essel Group Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra's autobiography

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched the autobiography of Essel Group Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra.

Modi unveiled the book at his official residence 7 RCR in Delhi.

Dr Chandra, during the launch event, said that focus and determination is the key to achieving success in life.

PM Modi, praising Dr Chandra, said, “It takes a lot of effort to write an autobiography. Taking risk is Subhash Chandra’s habit”.

Modi also praised Dr Chandra for his contribution to society and education.

Applauding Dr Chandra’s continuous efforts to achieve excellence, Modi said that it is very important to read biography. “It helps you know the history better,” the PM said.

The autobiography titled ‘The Z Factor: My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time’ has been written along with Pranjal Sharma.

A book launch event is also scheduled at Zee Jaipur Lit Fest at 12.25 pm tomorrow.

The panelists for the event are M J Akbar and Vallabh Bhansali who will interact with Dr Chandra in the launch session.

The book is published by Harper Collins and will be available in stores from tomorrow onwards. It is already available on Flipkart and Amazon India for pre-orders.

Dr Chandra, who is referred to as the Media Moghul of India, revolutionised the television industry by launching the country’s first satellite Hindi channel Zee TV in 1992 and later the first private news channel, Zee News.

His bouquet of businesses includes television networks (ZEE), a newspaper chain (DNA), cable systems (Wire and Wireless Ltd), direct-to-home (Dish TV), satellite communications (Agrani and Procall), theme parks (EsselWorld and Water Kingdom), online gaming (Playwin), education (Zee Learn), flexible packaging (Essel Propack), infrastructure development (Essel Infraprojects Ltd) and family entertainment centres (Fun Cinemas).

He has made his mark as an influential philanthropist in the country by setting up TALEEM (Transnational Alternate Learning for Emancipation and Empowerment through Multimedia), aimed at providing access to quality education through distance and open learning. Dr Chandra is also the Chairman of the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India – a movement to eradicate illiteracy from rural and tribal India. The Foundation provides free education to nearly eight lakh tribal children across 27,000 villages through one-teacher schools.



Juhi Chawla encouraged me to take up 'Chalk N Duster' - Shabana

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi has revealed that she was initially unsure about being a part of her upcoming film “Chalk N Duster”. The 65-year-old actress, who is sharing screen space with Juhi Chawla for the first time in the education drama, said her co-star encouraged her to take up the project.

“I was pretty unsure about the film because the makers of the movie are not familiar to me. I met Juhi and she convinced me to take up the project.”

In the film, directed by Jayant Gilatar, Shabana plays a senior mathematics teacher of a Mumbai-based high school. “My role is very different. I play a middle class school teacher. So, I had to look very different from the way I am in real life. I had shopped on my own for my look.”

“Chalk N Duster”, released yesterday, highlights the problem of teachers and students where teaching way in the education system is changing day by day.



CHICKEN LOLLIPOP

CHICKEN LOLLIPOP 
(Serves 4)

Ingredients:
4 pieces chicken wings
1 tbsp ginger paste
1 tbsp garlic paste
60ml cooking oil
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp chopped fresh coriander
1 tbsp chopped green chilli
2 tbsp chopped onion
2 tbsp flour
1 egg
2/3 cup breadcrumbs
1 tbsp cumin powder

Method: 
First marinate chicken wings with pepper, salt, soy sauce, red chilli powder, vinegar, garlic, and green chillies. Keep aside for at least 1-2 hours. Now push the meat down to one end of each chicken wing. Spread flour over the wings, than dip into egg and finally add breadcrumbs. The wings are ready for deep frying. Serve hot wings with warm peanut butter sauce and coriander leaves.

 



JP not splitting, Ershad declares

–JP not splitting, Ershad declares

–Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu removed as secy general

–Ruhul Amin Howlader replaces Bablu

A day into making his brother the co-chairman of Jatiya Party, HM Ershad today removed Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu as secretary general.

The JP chairman also appointed Ruhul Amin Howlader as the new secretary general of the party.

READ MORE: Jatiya Party on the verge of split

ershad-tvgrab6-wb

“No one can touch this party, I am its chairman. No one confuses anyone,” Ershad says. Photo: TV grab

“Impossible, Jatiya Party won’t split,” Ershad said after a press conference at his Banani residence today.

“No one can touch this party, I am its chairman. No one confuses anyone,” he said.

During the press conference, Ershad declared to remove his secretary general Ziauddin Bablu and made Ruhul Amin Howlader his new secretary general.

Also READ: Raushan calls press briefing too

The press conference was held at 2:00pm this afternoon after a much hyped rift within the party centering the appointment of Ershad’s brother GM Quader as the co-chairman.

The move displeased many leaders as they took it as an indication of Quader being the next chairman of Jatiya Party.

On the other hand, splitting is nothing new for Jatiya Party. It has already split four times with the last one of Kazi Zafar Ahmed “expelling” Ershad and joining hands with BNP.

Ershad, who is currently a special envoy of the prime minister, is also a known chameleon character who flip-flopped went back on his words countless times.



Rohith Vemula's death: Rahul Gandhi demands Hyderabad university VC's removal

  • My doors are always open for you, Rahul Gandhi tells students at Hyderabad university campus.

  • There should be no discrimination on the basis of caste. Rohith came to university with a certain hope: Rahul Gandhi
  • Rahul Gandhi addresses students, says Rohit Vemula’s family should be paid compensation. He further seeks Vice Chancellor P Appa Rao’s removal.
  • Research scholar Rohit Vemula, who allegedly committed suicide in a room on the campus of the University of Hyderabad, had in a letter purportedly written
    by him said he was not getting his fellowship for past seven months. “If you, who is reading this letter can do anything for me, I have to get 7 months of my fellowship, one lakh and seventy five thousand rupees. Please see to it that my family is paid that. I have to give some 40 thousand to Ramji. He never asked them back. But please pay that to him from that (sic),” Rohit purportedly wrote in the letter.
  • RPI leader Ramdas Athawale will visit Rohith Vemula’s family in Hyderabad tomorrow.
  • On the university campus, scores of students intensify their protests, demanding that Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, BJP MLC Ramchander Rao, university’s Vice Chancellor P Appa Rao and two ABVP leaders, against whom cases were registered for abetting suicide of Rohit, be jailed.
  • Several students in campuses outside the state come out of classes in solidarity with their Hyderabad Central University counterparts.
  • Rahul Gandhi interacts with students over the issue.
  • Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi arrives at Hyderabad university’s campus.
  • A video of altercation between Rohith Vemula and ABVP activists tearing down, ABVP flag has surfaced.
  • Have appointed Secretary Anita Agnihotri to investigate Dalit scholar’s suicide case: Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot
  • Attacking the government over the alleged suicide of a Dalit scholar in Hyderabad, Congress leader Digvijay Singh today charged that vice chancellors have
    been handpicked by the BJP and RSS, and asked student wings to come together to fight the “communal forces”.
    Also Read: Hyderabad student suicide: Digvijay asks student wings to unite
  • A two-member Trinamool Congress delegation led by party MP and national spokesperson Derek O’Brien is going to Hyderabad this evening to express solidarity with the students protesting against the alleged suicide.
  • Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi slams Rahul Gandhi, says the Congress leader is visiting Hyderabad to just rub salt in the wound.
  • Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati sends two-member team to Hyderabad to probe into the matter.
  • The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) student leader, who emerged as a key character in the entire episode, has expressed shock over the death of Rohith.
    Also Read: Shocked at Rohith Vemula’s suicide; it was just student politics: ABVP leader Susheel Kumar
  • Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar tweeted:

  • In Pune, the students of FTII sat on a day-long hunger strike outside the institute’s gate, expressing “solidarity” with students protesting over the alleged suicide.
  • Commenting on Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Hyderabad, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot tells ANI that politics should not be played in such cases. The ministry is gathering information regarding this case, justice will be don, assures Gehlot.
  • Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot seeks report from Telangana on Dalit student`s suicide​.
  • Also Read: Arvind Kejriwal attacks PM Narendra Modi over Dalit student Rohith Vemula’s death
  • Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal trained his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi:



  • Telangana Jagruti Yuva Morcha protests outside Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya’s residence in Hyderabad. Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and Hyderabad University Vice Chancellor were yesterday named in an FIR regarding the case.
  • Rohith Vemula, 28, was found hanging in his friend’s room in the hostel on Sunday. The second year research scholar of science, technology and society studies department was one of the five students expelled from the hostel and barred from all facilities except their classrooms following a clash with leaders of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
  • Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi heads to Hyderabad to meet the to meet the students after Rohith Vemula allegedly committed suicide sparking massive protests. Rahul is leaving for Hyderabad along with party general secretary Digvijay Singh and will meet the students of the university, party sources said.
    Also Read: Dalit student’s suicide case: Rahul Gandhi to visit University of Hyderabad today
  • All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday condemned the “cold-hearted attitude” of the concerned minister and the government over the suicide of a Dalit research scholar of Hyderabad Central University (HCU). “I condemn this attitude and hope strong action will taken against Vice Chancellor,” added Owaisi.


'Non-state actor' Masood Azhar behind Pathankot terror attack: Musharraf

Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf has rubbished suggestions that the Pathankot attack was the handiwork of ISI and Pak Army.

 In an interview to CNN-IBN, Musharraf said the Pakistani military establishment was 100 per cent for peace between the two neighbours.

The military ruler-turned president went on to claim that he was reasonably sure that non-state actor Masood Azhar was behind the Pathankot terror attack.

“Masood Azhar should not be roaming free (in Pakistan) after trying to assassinate me,” he told the news channel.

Musharraf also alleged that PM Narendra Modi is not sincere in engaging talks with Islamabad, adding that there was no substance in Indian PM’s meeting with Nawaz Sharif as it was just ‘optics’.

The deadly terror attack on Pathankot air base on January 2 had left six security personnel dead. All six terrorists were also neutralised.



Pak anti-terrorism court acquits Musharraf in Bugti murder case

Pakistan’s former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf was today acquitted by an anti-terrorism court in the murder case of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.

The court in Balochistan’s provincial capital Quetta acquitted former president Musharraf, ex-provincial home minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani and Qaumi Watan Party chief and member of National Assembly Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao.

After the announcement of the decision by Judge Jan Muhammad Gohar, the lawyer representing Bugti’s son Jamil Bugti, Sohail Rajput, announced his decision to challenge the judgment of the court, the Dawn reported.

“They should have been convicted and I do not understand why the court set them free,” Rajput said.

“We are not satisfied with this judgement and we will challenge it,” Rajput told reporters outside court.

Musharraf, 72, was indicted in the case in January 2015. The court also rejected the request by Jamil to order exhumation of the body of his father to confirm that the body buried in Dera Bugti was that of Akbar Bugti.

In a separate application, Jamil had requested the court to summon the members of a parliamentary committee who had met Akbar Bugti following the violence in Dera Bugti in March 2005
in which dozens were killed.

Jamil had named Musharraf, former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, former Governor of Balochistan Owais Ahmed Ghani, ex-interior minister Sherpao and others for the murder.

Bugti, former chief minister of Balochistan and head of his tribe, was killed in 2006 in a military operation ordered by Musharraf who was president and army chief at the time. His killing sparked nationwide protests and further fuelled an armed insurgency that began in 2004 in Balochistan.

Two co-accused – Musharraf’s then interior minister Sherpao and ex-provincial home minister Nusherwan – were also indicted for their alleged role in the murder of Bugti. Musharraf never appeared in the court during the entire legal process which had been in progress since 2009.

He was also absent when the charge-sheet was read out in the court. Musharraf came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999, deposing then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Facing impeachment following elections in 2008, Musharraf resigned as president and went into self-imposed exile in Dubai.

The ex-army chief is facing a slew of court cases after returning from five years of self-exile in Dubai to contest the general elections in 2013 which he lost.

He is also facing trial in high treason case for abrogating the constitution in 2007 and illegal detention of judges same year.



India within range of Pakistan's nuclear weapons: Hafiz Saeed

Yet again spewing venom against India, 26/11 attacks mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed has said that the neighbouring country is within the range of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.

“India and Israel are within the range of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons,” Saeed said while addressing JuD supporters on 15 January.

The 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind didn’t even spared his own Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. While targeting Sharif, the JuD chief said the Pakistani Premier wasn’t able to put forward Islamabad’s case when he met President Barack Obama in the US.

The JuD chief said that Sharif went to US with a file allegedly containing evidence against India and its spy wing RAW for spreading terror in Pakistan, but it was of no help to the country, Saeed maintained.

“When the Pakistan Premier reached US, he had to first meet US Secretary of State John Kerry who asked him to handover the file to him. After reluctantly giving the file to Kerry Sharif met Obama, who refused to pay heed to accusations against India and asked him about the action taken by Pakistan against JuD, Haqqani network and Lashkar-e-Toiba,” Saeed said.

Saeed also put his weight behind the banned Jaish-e-Mohammad, saying that Pakistan government is taking action against JeM to “please” Modi government in India.

“The arrests are regrettable as the Nawaz government is only doing so to please Modi sarkar (government). The arrests will only encourage the Indian government to put further pressure on Pakistan to backtrack it’s stance on Kashmir,” he said.

Saeed further said the Pakistani government is ignoring “national interest” for the sake of its friendship with India.