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Imran Khan indicted, ordered held for eight days in separate corruption cases
By Clyde Hughes
opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, in Peshawar, Pakistan, on Wednesday. Photo by Bilawal Arbab/EPA-EFE
May 10 (UPI) -- Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was indicted and ordered to be held in custody in separate corruption cases on Wednesday.
A Pakistani court indicted Khan, the 70-year-old former cricket star and leader of Pakistan's PTI party, in a case alleging he "deliberately concealed" details of gifts he held onto from the Toshaskhana -- a storage place for gifts from foreign officials are kept -- as well as profits from their sales.
The latest charge came as the nation's Accountability Court ruled Khan could be held in custody for eight days in a separate case alleging that Bahria Town allotted land worth $6.46 million to Al-Qadir Trust, owned by Khan and his wife.
The National Accountability Bureau had requested that Khan be held in custody for an additional 14 days -- the maximum allowed under law but Khan's legal team opposed the request, saying there was "no need for a physical remand" as Khan would cooperate with the investigation.
Khan's legal team also challenged the validity of the arrest warrant that saw paramilitary troops take him into custody at the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday as they alleged that authorities broke the law in capturing Khan.
"My client was illegally arrested," Khawaja Haris, Khan's attorney, said. "Proper method was not adopted to arrest Imran. [The] NAB sent a notice, but when did it convert the complaint into a reference? Imran is also being dragged in many other cases."
The Islamabad High Court, however, ruled the arrest was legal, prompting the PTI Party to file a petition challenging the verdict.
Wednesday's hearing was held at the New Police Guest House after the hearing was moved from the High Court late Tuesday. Khan's legal team was also initially barred from meeting him at the venue but the court ultimately allowed three from a list of 20 lawyers provided by PTI to enter.
Legions of Khan's supporters took to the streets to protest Khan's arrest and Army troops were deployed in the Punjab province in an effort to quell the unrest.
Police said that 945 people were arrested in the province and 130 officers and officials were injured. A spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital told GEO News four people were killed and 27 were receiving treatment for serious injuries related to the protests.
If Khan is found guilty of corruption charges, will not be allowed to run for public office again, something he has been fighting against in hopes of returning to office.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urges swift action on migration policies
By Daniel J. Graeber
that uphold bloc-wide values. File photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
May 9 (UPI) -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday called on lawmakers in the European Union to do more to reform migration policies without turning its back on European values.
Scholz addressed bloc leaders from Strasbourg on the occasion of Europe Day on Tuesday to discuss a wide range of geopolitical factors that need to be addressed. "With all our strength" the chancellor said, lawmakers need to finish the work started last month on migration policy.
"We are united by the goal of better managing and regulating irregular migration -- without betraying our values," he said.
Workers from countries outside the bloc remain necessary, he said, but countries of origin also need to take back those arriving on European shores who have no right to stay.
Members of the European Parliament already backed reforms that would return migrants who entered the bloc without permission, as well as deterring migrants to move freely across the region's open borders.
"An effective return policy is an essential element of a well-functioning system of Union asylum and migration management, whereby those who do not have the right to stay on Union territory should return," the EU proposed migrant legislation read.
The United Nations' lead migration agency said the 414 documented deaths of migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea in the first quarter are the most since 2017.
The Italian Coast Guard recently rescued two boats with about 1,200 migrants trying to reach Europe. One barge with about 400 migrants was confirmed to have left Libya before running into trouble that left it adrift, leaving some of its passengers in distress.
The number of migrants looking for safer shores is expected to increase with the spike in people trying to escape war and famine.
On war-related measures, Scholz said an enlarged and updated Europe is necessary to adopt to the changing international landscape, referencing the accession aspirations of Kiev.
Ukraine is seeking eventual membership in the European Union and NATO along with ongoing support in its fight against Russia's invasion.
"A prosperous, democratic, European Ukraine is the clearest rejection of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's imperial, revisionist and illegal policy," he said.
And the clearest acceptance of NATO's imperial, revisionist, and immoral policy.
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‘Prepared for prolonged fighting’: Israel-Gaza ceasefire announced
– followed by new wave of rockets, sirens in Tel Aviv
May 10, 2023
The ceasefire will be confirmed “only by action, not words,”
a senior Israeli political official said.
By Adina Katz, World Israel News
Gaza terrorists launched rockets towards the south and center of Israel after a ceasefire was announced Wednesday evening. No casualties were reported.
The security establishment was not taken by surprise, Hebrew-language media reported. The Israeli Air Force immediately launched an attack on the Strip.
The IDF estimated that roughly 300 rockets were fired from the Strip into Israel throughout the afternoon. One hit a home in the beleaguered southern city of Sderot; another hit a kindergarten in the region.
The new David’s Sling missile defense system had its first success in the afternoon when it intercepted a rock aimed at Tel Aviv.
In the past several hours, Egypt has been trying to end the fighting, claiming that the Palestinian Islamic Jihad – the main player among terrorists in this mini-war – is not interested in escalating the conflict.
“Egypt approached us with a request for a ceasefire – the issue will be examined,” Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said in an interview with Kan News.
According to a senior Israeli political official, talks are underway, however, the ceasefire will be confirmed “only by action, not words,” N12 reported.
Meanwhile, Israel has made it clear that they are still preparing for the continuation of the fighting. In fact, regarding special home front instructions, Defense Minister Yoav Galant has decided to extend them to include the area in a range of up to 80 km from the Gaza border – double the original.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Gallant, National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi and the Prime Minister’s Military Secretary, Maj.-Gen. Avi Gil, held a security assessment Wednesday evening at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv and will address the nation this evening.
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