Latest news with #PTI
Hindustan Times
20 minutes ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Karnataka reports second COVID-19 death in a week as elderly patient dies in Belagavi
Karnataka reported its second COVID-19 fatality in just over a week, after a 70-year-old man from Benakanahalli village in Belagavi district succumbed to the virus late on Wednesday night, health officials confirmed. The patient, who had multiple pre-existing health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease (IHD), was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Belagavi when he died due to acute cardiorespiratory arrest with encephalopathy and seizures, the state's health department said in a press release. Also Read - 'No apology, no release': Karnataka stands united against Kamal Haasan's Kannada comment Principal Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, Harsh Gupta, confirmed the death to PTI earlier in the day. The health department detailed that the man had experienced a seizure and lost consciousness on May 26, following which he was admitted to a private hospital. A neurologist attending to him diagnosed focal seizures with encephalopathy, in addition to severe anaemia and low platelet count (thrombocytopenia). With his oxygen saturation measured at 88%, a throat swab was taken for COVID-19 testing, which returned positive. Despite advice from doctors, the family moved the patient to Belagavi Medical College and Hospital on May 28. There, he was admitted to the Department of Respiratory Medicine and treated as per COVID-19 protocol. Also Read - AP CM Chandrababu Naidu clarifies stance after HAL relocation pitch sparks row with Karnataka leaders "Despite best efforts, his condition deteriorated and he passed away on the same day," the official release stated. This marks the second COVID-19 related death in Karnataka within a span of 11 days. On May 17, an 84-year-old man with serious comorbidities had died at a private hospital in Whitefield, Bengaluru. His COVID-19 test returned positive posthumously. Meanwhile, Karnataka's COVID-19 bulletin on May 29 reported 148 active cases across the state. A total of 42 new cases were added on Thursday, with 513 tests conducted (including 463 RT-PCR and 50 RAT). The day's positivity rate was recorded at 8.18%, while the fatality rate stood at 2.3%. Health authorities have urged the public, especially the elderly and those with comorbidities, to remain vigilant as sporadic COVID cases continue to emerge across the state.
Express Tribune
26 minutes ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Slim chances of CB upholding July 12 ruling
Listen to article Contrary to the majority opinion of a full bench of the Supreme Court, which on July 12, 2024 ordered allocation of reserved seats to the PTI, a constitutional bench (CB) reviewing the order states that the PTI is itself to blame for not getting reserved seats after the Feb 2024 general elections. While hearing review petitions in the reserved seats case, the judges are wondering as to why the PTI did not challenge the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) orders to declare its candidates independent despite the fact that eminent lawyers were contesting elections on the PTI ticket. The judges are also consistently defending the January 13, 2024 order of the Supreme Court to declare PTI's intra party election illegal. The order had resulted in stripping the party of its election symbol Even the judge, who himself raised serious questions on the conduct of the ECP in his minority view, is criticizing the PTIs' "poor legal strategy" to get reserved seats and the decision of the PTI backed candidates to join the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), which had not contested in the general elections. A three-member bench led by former chief justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa announced the verdict in the PTI intra-party election case on the night of January 13, 2024the last date for submission of party symbols in the general elections. Since May 9, 2023, PTI leadership has been accusing the government of using coercive tactics to pressure its leaders into leaving the party. Even during the elections, PTI backed candidates were not allowed to run any campaign. Even nomination papers of some candidates were snatched before their submission. The bench led by Justice Qazi Faez Isa had compelled the ECP to announce the date for the general elections in consultation with the president. However, there was a serious clash between the former CJP and the PTI as the latter had filed a presidential reference for his removal during its rule. After January 13, 2024 order, the PTI had lost hope that it could get any relief from the Supreme Court led by CJP Isa and after the intra-party election case order, PTI counsel Latif Khosa had withdrawn the contempt petition filed against the ECP for not complying with the SC decision to provide level playing field to the PTI to contest the elections. Some lawyers ask as to why CJP Isa did not list the review petition against his order for hearing to clear up the ambiguity, if the ECP was misinterpreting the order by declaring PTI candidates independent. They note that if the SC could issue two clarifications in the Mubarak Sani case then why it could not take notice of the misinterpretation of its important ruling by the ECP, which is a constitutional body. Constitutional benches (CBs) have also been created in the Supreme Court and high courts in view of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which, according to the PTI, was passed using coercive tactics. The CB hearing review petitions against the SC's July 12, 2024 order in the seats case also comprises judges who are selected by the executive members in the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) after passage of the 26th amendment. No explanation is given as to why the CB committee did not give a recommendation to the JCP for the inclusion of the six judges who were part of the original bench that heard the reserved seats case. Currently, no one on the bench is backing the majority decision in the reserved seats case. Even two signatories of the majority judgement are not passing any remark in favour of the July 12 verdict. Justice Ali Baqar Najfi has given a surprise by using the term "biased" for the majority decision. Only Justice Salahuddin Panwar is showing interest in reading the majority judgement. Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar said they, being junior judges, should defend the judgement under review. He, however, urged the SIC counsel Faisal Siddiqi to highlight important points for the determination at this stage. Justice Aminuddin Khan, who is leading the bench, is consistent in his approach. He has been consistently raising questions about the relief given to the PTI by the majority judges on July 12, 2024. Justice Mussarat Hilali, who was a member of the bench which had given January 13, 2024 order in the intra-party election case, is expressing concern that the majority judgement discussed the PTI intra-party election case judgement, which was not challenged before them. Faisal Siddiqi said the majority judges criticized the ECP's conduct but they did not question the January 13 order. Siddiqi is trying to read the important portions of the July 12 judgement before the bench. There are very slim chances that majority judgment will be upheld by this bench. There is a criticism that the majority judges had done judicial overreach in this case. On the other hand, PTI lawyers are saying that majority judges had tried to restore democracy which is the salient feature of the Constitution. The hearing of the case is adjourned until June 16. If the PTI could not get reserved seats, then the situation may not change but if the ruling parties get reserved seats then they will be easily in a position to get two-thirds majority in parliament, enabling them to amend the Constitution. PPP through Farooq H Naek and Asad Abbasi have filed written replies in the reserved seats case. The PPP said the order under review contravenes established principles of constitutional interpretation. By devising a procedure not contemplated under the Constitution, the order ventures into legislative territory, contrary to this honorable court's consistent jurisprudence that "the function of the court is interpretation, not legislation." The reply states that it is a settled principle of this court that when the law prescribes a specific manner and procedure for doing something, it must be followed strictly without deviation. This principle alone warrants the recall of the order under review, it added.
Business Recorder
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Reserved seats case: Ruling ‘amended' constitution, says constitutional bench
ISLAMABAD: The Constitutional Bench observed that majority judgment in reserved seats case amended the constitution, as three days mentioned in the constitution for joining a political party by independents in Parliament is increased to 15 days. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar questioned whether the judges should be concerned with what is written in the constitution and the law or the extraneous factors? He noted that constitution was re-written and there is history because it was done in the case of Article 63A of the constitution too. He said when the law is clear then there is no need of 'read in' or 'read down', and the Court has to adhere to the provisions. An 11-member Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court (SC), headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, on Thursday, heard the review petitions of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Reserved seats case: SIC lawyer proposes three sets of relief The proceeding was live-streamed on SC's YouTube channel. Justice Musarrat Hilali said that they majority [judgment] has discussed 13th January 2025 judgment, which review has been pending. Justice Ali Baqar Najafi said they (the majority) have expressed their mind, while alluding to the fact of the case. He asked what the oath of a judge says, and what is expected of him to deliver judgment on the basis of principles or law? Faisal Siddiqui, representing SIC, argued that 11 judges, including Justice (retired) Qazi Faez, Justice Mandokhail and Justice Yahya Afridi, in their verdicts maintained that all the independent candidates are Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members and the PTI is entitled to 78 reserved seats of women and non-Muslims in the National and the provincial assemblies. He requested the bench to dismiss the reviews petition, in which, additional grounds have not been filed. However, Justice Amin told him that the review petitions have been filed only against the majority judgment, while the judgments of other judges are intact. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail said: 'We (Justice Jamal and ex-CJP Qazi Faez) have maintained that only those independent candidates who in their nomination papers mentioned PTI and attached the party are the PTI members in the parliament.' He questioned how they can compel anyone who has contested election as an independent to join a particular party, or force anyone not to contest election as an independent. Faisal argued that all the 13 judges held that the PTI-backed independent candidates cannot join the SIC, and also reserved seats cannot be given to it. However, they maintained that the PTI was entitled to the reserved seats, adding the disagreement was on the number of PTI-affiliated candidates. The judges also disagreed with the majority judgment on timeline and the process described for joining the PTI by the independents, the SIC counsel submitted. He said that Justice Yahya had left this issue to be decided by the ECP. Justice Amin said whether any of the party during the original proceedings discussed that the reserved seats should be given to the PTI. Justice Mandokhail questioned whether only one and not all the political parties deserve fair treatment? Justice Musarrat Hilali questioned that Hamid Raza who had established the SIC in 2013 and has been its chairman then why he contested general elections as an independent instead of on the SIC platform, and after winning the election joined the SIC, and PTI-backed independent candidates were asked to join the SIC. She said if a party does not have presence in the parliament then how the independent candidates can join it. She asked what the PTI-backed independents have mentioned in their forms when they were joining the SIC. Faisal argued that the PTI's Intra-Party Election (IPE) was not accepted by the ECP, Peshawar High Court (PHC) and the Supreme Court and it was deprived of election symbol. He said that the 11 judges in their judgments stated that the ECP has in fact misunderstood and wrongly applied the Supreme Court judgment that the PTI is out of February 2024 elections. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
The Print
4 hours ago
- Health
- The Print
TDP-led government privatising medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh: YSRCP leader V Rajini
Though 17 medical colleges were announced, Rajini said that only five were completed while colleges envisaged under phase II at Paderu, Pulivendula, Markapuram, Adoni, and Madanapalle were stalled. Rajini noted that during COVID-19 pandemic, former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had initiated the construction of 17 medical colleges at a cost of Rs 8,500 crore with world class facilities akin to modern corporate hospitals for free healthcare and education. Amaravati, May 29 (PTI) YSRCP leader and former health minister V Rajani on Thursday said the TDP-led NDA government was 'privatising' medical colleges and termed it an 'institutional betrayal'. 'Each medical college, built at a cost of Rs 500 crore on 50 acres of prime land valued at over Rs 2 crore per acre, is being leased at Rs 100 per acre annually, totalling Rs 5,000 per college,' said Rajani addressing a press conference. She said these colleges were designed for local access to advance healthcare. Rajani alleged that public assets worth over Rs 8,000 crore are being handed over to private players for about Rs 5,000 annually, undermining decades of public healthcare investment. She said the government allegedly used audit firm KPMG's 'biased report' to justify the 'transfer of institutions' to corporate control, which could deprive medical education for the underprivileged sections and free super-specialty healthcare. Rajani accused the coalition government of dismantling several health schemes launched by the erstwhile YSRCP government which offered access to free healthcare and essential support. She alleged welfare, farming, and industrial systems are in crisis, while 'false promises' like iconic towers at Amaravati will only benefit a few and ignore public needs. There was no immediate reaction from the ruling TDP on Rajani's allegations. PTI MS STH SKY SKY This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Print
4 hours ago
- Science
- The Print
Hindu Kush Himalaya could lose 75 pc of ice by century's end under current climate policies: Study
In comparison, the study found that only about one-quarter of glacier ice globally will be left if the world warms by 2.7 degrees Celsius by the end of this century, the path the world is on if today's climate policies continue. If countries can limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the study published in the journal Science said 40-45 per cent of glacier ice in the Himalayas and the Caucasus would be preserved. New Delhi, May 29 (PTI) The Hindu Kush Himalaya, where glaciers feed rivers supporting two billion people, could lose up to 75 per cent of its ice by the end of the century if global temperatures rise by 2 degrees Celsius, according to a new study. Glacier regions most important to human communities, such as the European Alps, the Rockies of the western US and Canada, and Iceland, would be especially hard hit, it said. These regions could lose nearly all their ice at 2 degrees Celsius, with only 10-15 per cent of their 2020 levels remaining. Scandinavia could face an even grimmer future, with no glacier ice left at all at this level of warming. The study highlighted that limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a target set by the 2015 Paris Agreement, would help preserve some glacier ice in all regions. It predicted that 54 per cent of present-day glacier ice would remain globally and 20-30 per cent in the four most sensitive regions, if this goal is met. These findings come as global attention turns to the melting of glaciers and its impact, with world leaders gathering in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, for the first UN conference on glaciers starting Friday. Over 50 countries are attending, including 30 at the ministerial level or higher. Speaking in Dushanbe, Asian Development Bank Vice-President Yingming Yang said, 'Melting glaciers threaten lives on an unprecedented scale, including the livelihoods of more than 2 billion people in Asia. Switching to clean energy to cut the release of planet-warming emissions remains the most effective way of slowing glacial melt.' 'At the same time, it is essential to mobilize financing to help the most vulnerable adapt to a future of more floods, droughts, and rising sea levels across Asia and the Pacific,' he added. To get these results, a team of 21 scientists from 10 countries used eight glacier models to calculate the potential ice loss of the more than 200,000 glaciers worldwide, under a wide range of global temperature scenarios. For each scenario, they assumed that temperatures would remain constant for thousands of years. In all scenarios, the glaciers lose mass rapidly over decades and then continue to melt at a slower pace for centuries, even without further warming. This means they will feel the impact of today's heat for a long time before settling into a new balance as they retreat to higher altitudes. 'Our study makes it painfully clear that every fraction of a degree matters,' says co-lead author Dr Harry Zekollari from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. 'The choices we make today will resonate for centuries, determining how much of our glaciers can be preserved.' PTI GVS GVS KVK KVK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
