Child abuse in Pakistan: The parents of a 14-year-old Pakistani Christian girl, who was abducted, forcibly converted to Islam and married off to her abductor, will approach the Supreme Court after a lower court ruled that marriage with an underage girl is valid as per the Sharia law if she has had her first menstrual cycle. Huma was 14 when she was abducted in October last year and forced to marry her abductor Abdul Jabbar after being converted to Islam, according to her parents Younis and Nagheena Masih.
Disha Act: Disha Act is aimed at providing speedy justice to rape victims by punishing the culprits at a faster pace, said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy here on Saturday. Chief Minister Reddy, who was speaking after inaugurating the first Disha Police Station, said: “Woman safety is our government’s priority. The Disha Act is for ensuring women’s safety.”
Dr CP Joshi on CAA: While Rajasthan CM has been vehemently stating that CAA will not be applicable in the state, Assembly Speaker, Dr CP Joshi, has now said that the Centre’s Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will have to be implemented by the state government. He added that state government can legislate only on the subjects of the concurrent list. C.P. Joshi is a senior Congress leader and his comments have become a topic of discussion in political circles.
India on Saturday sought devolution of powers by the Sri Lankan government to the minority Tamils in the island nation and hoped that their aspirations for equality, justice and respect will be fulfilled as per provisions of the country’s Constitution. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the issue was discussed with an “open mind” and hoped that the Tamil reconciliation process would be taken forward by Colombo.
Public Safety Act: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has slapped the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) on senior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar, officials said on Saturday. Akhtar became the sixth mainstream leader in Kashmir to be booked under the controversial PSA, which was enacted in 1978 to deal with rampant timber smuggling.
Thai shootout: A Thai soldier killed at least 17 people with over dozen more wounded in a shooting Saturday in the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima, health authorities said.The gunman, identified by police as Sergeant Major Jakapanth Thomma stole an army vehicle and also posted photos and video of himself in full tactical gear as the attack in Korat was carried out.
Pakistan Supreme Court: Supreme Court had on Friday directed the federal authorities to take action against unauthorised constructions and encroachments in Karachi’s PNT Colony, Delhi Colony and Punjab Colony and asked the Sindh government to carry out planned development work at Nehr-i-Khayyam in Clifton.
Child rape: A resolution calling for the public hanging of offenders convicted for sexually abusing and murdering children was passed in the National Assembly of Pakistan on Friday with a majority of votes. The session was presided over by Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Sur. Meanwhile, Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari clarified that the resolution “was not government-sponsored but an individual act.”