Imran Khan's call from jail: 'Hold Asim Munir accountable if anything happens to me'; alleges 'harsh treatment'
'In recent days, the harsh treatment I face in jail has intensified. The same applies to my wife, Bushra Bibi. Even the television in her cell has been switched off. All basic rights — both human and those legally granted to prisoners — have been suspended for both of us,' he said in a post on X.
'Therefore, I give clear instructions to my party — if anything happens to me in jail, Asim Munir must be held accountable,' he added.
'I am prepared to spend my entire life in prison, but there is no question of bowing before tyranny and oppression. My message to the people of Pakistan is the same — never submit to this oppressive system under any circumstances,' he said.
The 72-year-old former cricketer and politician has been in jail since August 2023, facing multiple criminal charges.
PTI is set to launch a nationwide campaign from August 5, demanding his release and pressuring the Shehbaz Sharif government and the military establishment.
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News18
18 minutes ago
- News18
Swiss firms pollution rankings misleading: Govt tells Parliament
Agency: PTI New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) The government on Thursday questioned the credibility of a global report that ranked India among the world's most polluted countries, saying the rankings could be 'misleading" due to limitations in data sources and methodology. Replying to an unstarred question by Congress MP Pramod Tiwari in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh said the IQAir report published in March 2024 ranks countries based on average PM2.5 concentrations. 'However, it must be noted that only 38 per cent of the data sources used in the report are from government agencies. The remaining 62 per cent are from other agencies and include data generated using low-cost sensors," Singh said in his written reply. He said that such sensors are not approved for regulatory use and can produce data with a significant degree of error or uncertainty. 'The data from a variety of monitors and sources, especially low-cost sensors, may have inaccuracies. Moreover, the report uses population-weighted averages based on data from urban monitoring stations, which may not represent the true national average," the minister said. 'In view of these limitations and uncertainties in the data, the ranking of cities and countries may not portray the true picture and could be misleading," Singh added. Responding to another part of the question on whether air pollution is causing deaths and impacting people's health across the country, the minister said there is no conclusive data available to establish a direct correlation between air pollution and deaths. 'Air pollution is one of many contributing factors that can affect respiratory ailments and related diseases," Singh said. 'Health is determined by several variables, including food habits, occupational exposure, socio-economic conditions, medical history, immunity, heredity and environmental factors." He added that while air pollution is certainly a concern, isolating it as the sole cause of mortality is not scientifically accurate. Tiwari also asked whether a substantial portion of the Environmental Protection Charge (EPC) and Environmental Compensation (EC) funds remained unutilised. The minister confirmed that large amounts of these funds were yet to be spent, partly due to judicial directions. 'As of now, a total of Rs 620.6 crore has been accrued in the Environmental Compensation account, including Rs 99.51 crore in bank interest. Out of this, Rs 80.82 crore has been utilised and Rs 138.38 crore has been committed to 24 sanctioned projects and ongoing activities," Singh informed the House. He said the remaining balance of Rs 401.4 crore includes Rs 284.18 crore held in sub-judice accounts, including Rs 184.18 crore maintained in 23 specific-purpose accounts and Rs 100 crore kept in fixed deposit, as per the direction of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). At present, Rs 117.22 crore is available for utilisation, but the disbursement of EC funds has been halted following an NGT order dated January 21, 2025. The EPC fund was created following a Supreme Court order dated August 12, 2016, which imposed a 1 per cent charge on diesel vehicles with engines of 2000 cc and above registered in Delhi-NCR. 'As on June 18, 2025, the EPC fund account had Rs 527.91 crore. Of this, Rs 173 crore has already been disbursed and Rs 222.83 crore has been allocated for sanctioned projects and activities," Singh said. 'Of the remaining Rs 132.08 crore, Rs 54 crore has been earmarked as performance grants for the financial year 2025-26 to support 19 NCR cities. This leaves a balance of Rs 78.08 crore available for utilisation." Asked whether the government's air pollution control efforts have focused disproportionately on road dust rather than industrial, vehicular or biomass emissions, the minister defended the approach. 'The government has adopted a multi-sectoral strategy through the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019. It targets all major sources of air pollution, including industries, vehicles, open burning of waste, road dust and construction and demolition activities," he said. Singh said the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified 130 million-plus or non-attainment cities — cities that have exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for five consecutive years — and prepared city-specific clean air action plans for all of them. 'These plans target local air pollution sources including soil and road dust, vehicles, domestic fuel use, municipal solid waste burning, construction material and industries. They include both short-term actions and medium-to-long-term strategies, coordinated with concerned local agencies," the minister said. Singh cited source apportionment studies conducted in various cities under NCAP, which revealed that road dust and construction activities contribute 40 to 50 per cent of PM10 concentrations in many urban areas. 'Accordingly, cities have prioritised road improvement, traffic decongestion, junction redesign and greening of open spaces," he said. The minister also said that efforts to curb stubble burning, a major contributor to seasonal air pollution in north India, are underway. 'CPCB has issued guidelines for providing financial support to set up paddy straw-based pelletisation and torrefaction plants. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed thermal power plants within 300 km of Delhi to co-fire 5 to 10 per cent biomass with coal. Similar directions apply to captive power plants in industrial units located in NCR," Singh said. Further, he said that performance-based grants are being released to urban local bodies in the 130 identified cities under NCAP through both the Central Sector Scheme 'Control of Pollution' and the 15th Finance Commission's air quality grants. 'As on July 20, 2025, a total of Rs 13,036.52 crore has been released to these cities since 2019-20 for implementing various pollution control measures. Of this, Rs 9,209.44 crore has already been utilised by the urban local bodies," the minister added. PTI GVS DIV DIV (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 24, 2025, 18:45 IST News agency-feeds Swiss firms pollution rankings misleading: Govt tells Parliament Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. 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News18
18 minutes ago
- News18
Kerala Cabinet calls Achuthanandan a symbol of relentless democratic struggle
Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 24 (PTI) The Kerala cabinet on Thursday described former Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan's life as 'one of relentless struggle for the protection of democratic values" and said his passing was a great loss to the state's political and democratic movements. Achuthanandan, a veteran Communist leader, died on July 21 in Thiruvananthapuram at the age of 101. He was cremated with full honours at Valiya Chudukadu in Alappuzha district late on Wednesday evening. Expressing profound grief at the loss of Achuthanandan, the Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, noted that he was a symbol of a glorious legacy of struggles, extraordinary determination, and uncompromising stances in resistance. 'His passing marks the loss of a valuable political presence that bridged the era of the national freedom movement with contemporary politics," the Cabinet said in its tribute. Born into poverty, Achuthanandan began life as a farm labourer in Kuttanad, where he organised workers against wage and caste-based exploitation. He walked from village to village, bringing agricultural labourers together and leading campaigns for better pay, job security, and land reform, the Cabinet said. He was at the forefront of efforts to abolish the 'chaappa" system, an inhuman method of labour recruitment. Achuthanandan's political journey began with the freedom struggle and developed through the worker-peasant movements that shaped Kerala's leftist landscape. His name remains closely associated with the historic Punnapra-Vayalar uprisings of the 1940s. Elected to the state Assembly multiple times — from Ambalapuzha in 1967 and 1970, Mararikulam in 1991, and Malampuzha in 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016 — he served as Leader of the Opposition and was Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011. From 2016 to 2021, he chaired the Kerala Administrative Reforms Commission. 'As Chief Minister, he led Kerala forward through several key administrative decisions. In his role as Leader of the Opposition, he raised numerous people's issues in the Assembly. VS was a statesman who made unparalleled contributions to governance, law-making, and the political history of Kerala. His Cabinet functioned with a constant effort to reflect the voice of the people in governance and to take the state forward on the path of development," the Cabinet said. In a heartfelt Facebook post, Achuthanandan's son V A Arun Kumar also expressed his deep sorrow and gratitude, recalling the painful realisation that the morning marked their first without him. 'Hundreds of people close to my father wished to see him while he lay on his sickbed. But due to strict instructions from the doctors, no one could be allowed to meet him in his final days. I know many must have felt disappointed by this. I still wonder if I was able to respond warmly enough even to those who came to the hospital to offer their support," he said. He said it took him a long time to accept his father's passing. 'Everything that happened afterwards feels like a dream. I still vividly remember sitting next to my father on the bus, watching the sea of people flowing past us, waving their hands in farewell, on the journey to Valiya Chudukadu," Kumar said. Recognising the efforts of all who stood with them, the family also conveyed their heartfelt thanks to the doctors, well-wishers, and the thousands who gathered to honour Achuthanandan. 'I am deeply grateful to everyone –the doctors at the hospital, those who came to comfort us, the thousands who stood with my father one last time, and the party… Thank you all," Kumar wrote. PTI TGB TGB ROH view comments First Published: July 24, 2025, 18:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
24 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Criminalising sex between teenagers…': Supreme Court urged to lower age of consent to 16
Senior advocate and amicus curiae Indira Jaising has urged the Supreme Court to lower the legal age of sexual consent from 18 to 16, arguing that the current law unfairly criminalises consensual relationships between teenagers. Senior advocate and amicus curiae Indira Jaising has urged the Supreme Court to reduce the legal age of sexual consent from 18 to 16(HT File) In her written submissions to the court in the Nipun Saxena v. Union of India case, Jaising challenged the blanket criminalisation of consensual sexual activity involving adolescents aged 16 to 18 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), PTI reported. She argued that the existing legal framework violates the constitutional rights of adolescents by treating consensual romantic relationships as criminal acts. 'There is no rational reason or empirical data to justify the increase in the age of consent from 16 to 18 years,' Jaising said, as quoted in the report. She pointed out that for over 70 years, the age of consent in India remained 16, and was raised to 18 through the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, without public debate. This, she said, went against the Justice Verma Committee's recommendation to keep it at 16. Jaising also argued that today's adolescents reach puberty earlier and are capable of making informed decisions about their relationships. She cited data from the National Family Health Survey and other sources to show that sexual activity among teenagers is common, and said the law needs to reflect this social reality. Between 2017 and 2021, Jaising noted, there was a 180 per cent rise in POCSO prosecutions involving minors aged 16 to 18. 'Most complaints are filed by parents, often against the girl's will, in cases involving inter-caste or inter-faith relationships,' she said. She warned that criminalising consensual sex 'forces young couples into hiding, marriage or legal trouble, instead of encouraging open dialogue and education.' To address this, she urged the court to introduce a 'close-in-age' exception that would exempt consensual sexual activity between adolescents aged 16 to 18 from being prosecuted under POCSO or rape laws. 'Criminalising sex between teenagers is arbitrary, unconstitutional, and against the best interests of children,' she added. Jaising also referred to international legal standards and Indian case law that recognise a young person's right to make informed choices. She cited the UK's Gillick ruling and India's Puttaswamy privacy judgment to argue that personal autonomy must also extend to adolescents. She further pointed to observations made by several high courts—including Bombay, Madras, and Meghalaya—that have raised 'concerns' about automatically prosecuting adolescent boys under POCSO, even when the sexual relationship is consensual. These courts have underlined the need to distinguish between coercive abuse and consensual acts involving minors, the report added. Jaising concluded by urging the Supreme Court to clarify that consensual sex between 16 to 18-year-olds is not a criminal offence and should not fall under the definition of abuse under POCSO or IPC. With PTI inputs
