30th March 2022 News : Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan received another blow

HT Daily News Wrap

3 accused have been arrested in connection with TMC leader Bhadu Sheikh’s murder, Coronavirus put a break on PM Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat defence plans with two key strategic partners, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan received another blow as MQM-P, the major coalition partner of PTI government struck a deal with the opposition and other top news in today's bulletin.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan received another blow as Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), the major coalition partner of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, struck a deal with the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party, according to local media reports. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweeted early Wednesday morning that the united opposition and MQM have reached an agreement. “Rabta committee MQM and PPP CEC will ratify the said agreement. We will then share details with the media in a press conference tomorrow IA. Congratulations Pakistan,” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari wrote on Twitter. Senior MQM leader Faisal Sabzwari also confirmed the deal on Twitter, saying the agreement has been finalized and the details will be provided at 6pm today. The late-night development ahead of the crucial vote on the no-confidence motion has left Imran Khan’s future in tatters as the PTI government has lost the majority in the lower house of the parliament. Three accused have been arrested in connection with ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Bhadu Sheikh’s murder in West Bengal’s Birbhum. An arson attack that left nine people dead followed the murder. “Three persons have been arrested. Earlier we arrested one person. The three have been identified as Shera Sheikh, Sanju Sheikh and Raja Sheikh,” said a police officer in Birbhum. “Three persons have been arrested. Earlier we arrested one person. The three have been identified as Shera Sheikh, Sanju Sheikh and Raja Sheikh,” said a police officer in Birbhum. CCTV footage showed Sheikh speaking on his phone on March 21 when four assailants on a motorbike hurled a crude bomb and shot him before fleeing. “The three have direct links with the murder,” said a second officer. At least eight houses were set afire after the murder. According to post mortem reports of those killed in the alleged reprisal attack, the victims were first attacked with sharp weapons before they were burnt alive. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said regional cooperation – specifically among south and south-east Asian countries – had become a priority because the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war had ‘raised questions about the stability of the international order’. The prime minister was delivering a virtual address at the BIMSTEC summit chaired by Sri Lanka. “The recent developments in Europe have raised questions about the stability of the international order. In this context, it has become a greater priority to have regional cooperation,” he told representatives of the seven-nation regional bloc. “(As) our region faces challenges of health and economic security, the need of the hour is unity and cooperation,” he said, noting India would provide BIMSTEC with $1 million towards its operating budget. “It is important to strengthen the capacity (of the regional alliance)…” An association of resident doctors has demanded a proper investigation into an incident involving the deaths of a pregnant woman and an obstetrician in Rajasthan’s Dausa. Dr Archana Sharma allegedly died by suicide after she was booked for the death of the pregnant woman, the police said on Tuesday. An FIR was registered against the doctor at the Lalsot Police Station after family members of the pregnant woman protested outside the hospital, run by Dr Sharma and her husband, demanding immediate action, reported news agency PTI. Stressed over the FIR, police said, Sharma hanged herself to death. “The doctor was booked for the death of the pregnant woman due to negligence in treatment. Today afternoon, the doctor hanged herself to death at her residence above the hospital,” PTI quoted Additional SP (Dausa) Lal Chand Kayal as saying. Coronavirus put a break on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” defence plans with two key strategic partners of India calling off their visit to the Capital this month after testing positive. The visits are now being rescheduled on a priority. The first visitor to call off the visit to India was French President’s Diplomatic Advisor Emmanuel Bonne, who was scheduled to hold Strategic Dialogue with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on March 22 in Delhi. The visit was cancelled after Bonne got infected with Covid. This meeting was a follow up to the two key advisors meeting in November last year. Perhaps one of India’s closest allies, France is willing to set up defence manufacturing units in critical technologies in collaboration with private players in India without the usual hurdles of licensing and third-party sales and export. Besides, France and India are close partners in the Indo-Pacific and are on the same page on freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.