Author: LokMarg

Cases of disappearances, especially from ethnic minority areas continue unabated in Pakistan with a commission recording a total of 158 missing persons for the year 2022.

The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances has received 76 new complaints of missing persons in March, according to the monthly report released by the commission, Friday Times reported.

The Commission statistics also indicate that a total of 23 cases were deleted due to not being deemed to be cases of enforced disappearance.

As per the data of cases from March 2011, when the commission was established, up till March 2022, the commission has received 8,463 complaints related to enforced disappearances, out of which it has disposed of 6,275 cases, while the whereabouts of 2,266 persons could not be ascertained during the course of inquiry.

The commission took up the case of Muhammad Nabi Marri & Muhammad Khan Marri, residents of Quetta, At the hearing held in this case at Quetta, SP Quaid Abad Quetta informed the commission that incidents of alleged enforced disappearance occurred on 11 April 2012, while dead bodies of both were found in the Maidan of Killa Firozabad, Sariab Road, Quetta last year, the report said.

The commission also took up the case of Sikandar Khan son of Pir Bakhsh, a resident of Quetta, and he appeared before the commission. His statement was recorded on oath, in which he stated that he was abducted in front of his house, blindfolded by three or four persons, who came in a car, and kept him at some unknown place in a small room – from where he was set free at Quetta Bazaar after 45 days.

Out of a total of 940 persons confined in different internment centers in the country, 91 belong to Punjab, 791 are from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 41 are from Sindh, 21 are residents of the federal capital Islamabad, two are from Baluchistan, three are from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and one person belongs to Gilgit-Baltistan, the report further said.

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah last week equated enforced disappearances with treason. The remark came during the hearing of missing journalist Mudassar Naaru’s case at the IHC. Naru, a journalist from Lahore, went missing in August 2018, the report said.

“Can anyone be disappeared without their [federal and provincial governments’] will? No,” the judge declared. “People going missing are the incompetence of the State. The Executive is responsible if the state agencies are not in control. Why don’t we declare the executive responsible for it?”

Enforced disappearances are used as a tool by Pakistani authorities to terrorize people who question the all-powerful army establishment of the country, or seek individual or social rights. Cases of enforced disappearances have been majorly recorded in the Balochistan and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces of the country which host active separatist movements.

A recent report unveiled by the US revealed that over 8000 people were missing in the country during 2021 including 1,200 missing in Sindh province in the last six months. (ANI)

After acing adorable salwar-kameez looks during her visit to Punjab, Shehnaaz Gill is now turning heads with her sizzling new avatar.

Taking to her Instagram handle, the ‘Honsla Rakh’ actor shared a string of pictures, in which she can be seen wearing a white sweater top with an embellished mini skirt.

Shehnaaz Gill styled her hair with loose waves and completed the outfit with champagne-gold coloured heels. She added drama to her look with smokey eyes and dewy makeup.

In the caption, she wrote, “Style is not a display of wealth but an expression of imagination and mood.”

Fans flooded the post with likes and love-filled comments.

“Wow is an understatement! God bless your Shehnaaz,” a social media user wrote.

“Queen of all hearts,” another added.

On the work front, Shehnaaz was recently seen in Shilpa Shetty’s fitness-based show ‘Shape of You’. (ANI)

Who does not want to look their best when there is an important wedding in the family? Bollywood divas Kareena Kapoor Khan and Karisma Kapoor have undoubtedly aced their fashion game on day one of Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt’s wedding festivities.

The sisters, on Wednesday afternoon, were spotted leaving for Ranbir’s residence Vastu, where the pre-wedding rituals are being held.
For the special occasion, Karisma and Kareena opted for traditional outfits. Kareena chose to wear an ivory dream lehenga. On the other hand, Karisma was seen dressed in a yellow suit. Ranbir’s cousin Armaan Jain was also papped while he was leaving for the venue.

If reports are to be believed, the mehendi function of Ranbir and Alia is currently taking place at the former’s Vastu residence. (ANI)

Karnataka Minister KS Eshwarappa on Wednesday ruled out resigning from the cabinet amid the opposition’s demand for his resignation and arrest over a case related to the death of a contractor.

“There is no question of me resigning from the post of Minister because of any reason. I have informed CM Bommai and the party president that there is no question of me resigning as a minister,” said KS Eshwarappa, Karnataka Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj.
Demanding an investigation into the matter, Eshwarappa termed the incident a “conspiracy”.

“The conspiracy behind the death should be probed. Did he die on his own or for some other reason must be investigated,” Eshwarappa said.

Contractor Santosh Patil, who died by suicide, has purportedly left a WhatsApp message alleging corruption by Eshwarappa.

The Minister defended himself by saying that “no death note was found near the body” and questioned the legality of considering a WhatsApp message.

Denying any relation to the contractor, Minister added, “Officially no work order has been issued to him.”

“I have not seen his (Santosh Patil) face but as you (reporters) are saying that he often travelled to Delhi. It should be probed who booked his flight tickets and why,”

As opposition Congress launched a scathing attack on the Minister over the alleged death by suicide, Eshwarappa said “I want to ask the Congress, did you, when in power, release payment without a work order.”

“Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar know nothing. Whatsaap message cannot be taken as a death note,” said Eshwarappa.

The contractor had earlier alleged that Eshwarappa demanded commission for the release of funds for the civil works undertaken by him at Hindalga village in Belagavi district ahead of a festival.

The 37-year-old contractor allegedly committed suicide in a lodge in Udupi on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday by consuming some poisonous substance, according to police.

The brother of the deceased contractor Santosh Patil on Wednesday demanded the arrest of KS Eshwarappa and his close aides Ramesh and Basawaraj.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Congress delegation led by state party chief DK Shivakumar, and former chief minister Siddaramaiah met Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot demanding the expulsion of Eshwarappa from the state cabinet as well as his arrest over the contractor’s death.

“FIR lodged against KS Eshwarappa. He and the other accused should be immediately arrested; a case must be filed under the corruption act… In his text message, (deceased contractor) Santosh Patil clearly blamed Eshwarappa for his death. The Minister and his PAs demanded 40 per cent commission. He wrote to PM Modi and met BL Santhosh and others. He categorically mentioned corruption. We demand that the case must be filed under the corruption act,” he said.

Referring to the purported social media message, the Congress leader said “In his WhatsApp message, he clearly said that Eshwarappa is responsible for his death. So Eshwarappa must be arrested.” (ANI)

The wait is finally over! Lovebirds Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt will tie the knot on the occasion of Baisakhi on Thursday.

The details about the wedding date have been confirmed by Ranbir’s sister Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and mother Neetu Kapoor while talking to the media after attending the couple’s mehendi ceremony.

“The wedding is tomorrow (Thursday) at Vastu (Ranbir’s Bandra residence),” Riddhima and Neetu, with a big smile on their faces, informed.

The mother-daughter duo also praised Alia, saying she is the “best.”

“Bhaut cute and gorgeous hai Alia (She is extremely cute and gorgeous),” Riddhima added.

Prior to the mehendi ceremony, a pooja was organised at Ranbir’s residence in memory of his late father Rishi Kapoor, who passed away on April 30, 2022, after battling cancer.

Speaking of Ranbir and Alia’s relationship, the two met on the sets of ‘Brahmastra’ five years ago and fell in love with each other while working together. (ANI)

Not only wishes but gifts have also been pouring in for Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt.

A day before their wedding, a jeweller on Wednesday sent a gold-plated bouquet to the couple.
A video has been doing the rounds on the internet in which two men are seen arriving with the bouquet for the love birds.

When asked about the gift, the men claimed that it was a gold bouquet coated with gold foil.

Reportedly, the special gift was sent by a jeweller in Surat.

The major spell of heatwave in northwest India has come to an end and the temperature is likely to decrease by two to three degrees due to the increased presence of clouds, said senior Scientist at India Meteorological Department RK Jenamani.

Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Jenamani said, “The major spell of the heatwave is over. The heatwave will remit from tomorrow in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The impact of the heatwave was most seen in Delhi on April 9, 10, and 11. It was the highest in the first 15 days in the last 72 years. In Delhi, the heatwave remained for nearly 13 days.”

He further said, “Due to the increased presence of clouds over Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan & Haryana, the temperature will decrease by 2-3°C and heatwave will remit. Delhi will have wind and cloud conditions. Predicted western disturbance is already showing effects over north-western India,” he added.

“All India temperature was the highest in 122 years due to no rainfall in last 50 days. Heatwave conditions might arise in Rajasthan around April 16. Another western disturbance is expected from 18 April,” added Jenamani. (ANI)

As many as 13 people died within a week after consuming poisonous mushrooms in four districts of Upper Assam.

All the victims were admitted to Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in the Dibrugarh district.

Dr Prasanta Dihingia, Superintendent of AMCM told ANI that all the victims died at AMCH while undergoing treatment.

“13 people including a minor died due to consumption of poisonous mushroom in last seven days. Total 39 patients were admitted to the hospital from four districts of the Upper Assam region and out of which 13 people died,” Dr Prasanta Dihingia said.

He further said that the victims were from Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar and Charaideo districts.

“Most of them are from tea garden areas. Many people from the Upper Assam region fall ill after eating poisonous mushrooms every year,” Dr Dihingia added. (ANI)