Pakistani court issues non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran Khan over May 9 violence

Lahore police on May 10 registered two FIRs against Khan and other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI ) party leaders on charges of attacking and torching a ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party office and a container.

Imran Khan questioned why no investigation of attacks on the military and state installations had been carried out yet.

A Pakistani court on Tuesday issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan in two cases related to arson attacks during the May 9 violence which erupted following his arrest in a corruption case.

Lahore police on May 10 registered two FIRs against Khan and other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI ) party leaders on charges of attacking and torching a ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party office and a container.

“Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Lahore judge Abher Gul Khan on Tuesday issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of PTI chairman Imran Khan and six other leaders of his party in two cases of arson attacks,” a court official told PTI.

He said police might arrest the former-cricketer-turned politician and produce him before the court in these cases.

A source in the Punjab government told PTI that no direction had come from the “top” (a reference to the powerful military establishment) as yet to nab the former premier after the issuance of arrest warrants against him.

Other PTI leaders whose non-bailable arrest warrants have been issued include Khan’s nephew Hassaan Niazi, former federal ministers Hammad Azhar, Murad Saeed and Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, former provincial cabinet members Musarrat Cheema and Mian Aslam Iqbal.

Khan, in a tweet on Tuesday, questioned why no investigation of attacks on the military and state installations had been carried out yet.

"Question that needs to be asked is, how come there is no investigation so far on 16 unarmed protesters confirmed shot dead by our security forces (while no policeman was injured by any bullets)," he said.

"Three of the unarmed protesters, because of bullet wounds, had to have their legs amputated while nine others who are suspected to have died, we have no news as their relatives are either underground or too scared of the police to speak out,” Khan added.

The 70-year-old PTI chief further said that a thorough probe would have been held by now, and the government held accountable in any society ruled by law.

“There has been no independent investigation even on the arson that took place on the 9th of May as the government is busy using that as a pretext to dismantle Pakistan's biggest political party,” he alleged.

Widespread violence erupted in Pakistan after Khan was arrested by paramilitary personnel inside the Islamabad High Court on May 9. He was later released on bail.

Over 20 military installations and state buildings, including military headquarters in Rawalpindi, were damaged or torched in the violent protests that followed Khan's arrest.

According to PTI, law enforcement agencies arrested over 10,000 party workers across Pakistan, mostly from Punjab.

Khan, the cricketer-turned-politician, was ousted from power after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership, which he alleged was part of a US-led conspiracy targeting him for his independent foreign policy on Russia, China and Afghanistan.

On Ex Twitter Boss' Charge Against India, Elon Musk's Response

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met prominent US personalities from different walks of life, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk who asserted that India has more promise than any other large country and that he is incredibly excited about its future.

On Ex Twitter Boss' Charge Against India, Elon Musk's Response

New York: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met prominent US personalities from different walks of life, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk who asserted that India has more promise than any other large country and that he is incredibly excited about its future.

Musk told reporters after meeting PM Modi that Twitter, the social media giant he owns, does not have a choice but to follow the local government. Or it will get shut down, he said when asked about the company's former owner and CEO Jack Dorsey's recent allegation against the Indian government.

"The best we can do is to follow the laws in any given country," he said, adding that it is impossible for "us to do more than that".

There are different rules and regulations for different forms of governments, and "we will do our best to provide the freest speech that is possible under the law", Musk said.

Asked if Tesla will enter the Indian market, Musk said he is planning to visit the country next year. "I am confident that Tesla will be in India and will do so as soon as humanly possible," he said.

"I would like to thank the prime minister for his support and hopefully we will be able to announce something in the not so distant future," Musk said.

"We do not want to jump the gun on an announcement but I think it is quite likely that it will be a significant investment in our relationship with India," the Tesla CEO said.

In a separate video statement, Musk also lauded PM Modi, saying he "really cares about India because he is pursuing us to make significant investment in India." "I am a fan of Modi," he said.

India is great for solar energy investment, Musk added, describing his talks with the prime minister as excellent.

PM Modi, who is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, is meeting over two dozen thought leaders from various walks of life, including Nobel laureates, economists, artists, scientists, scholars, entrepreneurs, academicians and health sector experts.

Besides Musk, they include astrophysicist and author Neil deGrasse Tyson, Nobel laureate economist Paul Romer, author Nicholas Nassim Taleb and investor Ray Dalio.

Prime Minister Modi met one-on-one with some of them while others met him in groups.

Taleb after meeting PM Modi said, "I commended India for its response to Covid and how India has very efficiently dealt with it. Discussed risk taking and anti-fragility with the prime minister." Dalio said "Modi is a man whose time has come when India's time has come".

"Potential of India is enormous and you have now have a reformer who has the ability to transform. India and Prime Minister Modi are at a juncture in which lot of opportunities will be created," he said.

In a video statement, Tyson also praised PM Modi, saying the sky is not the limit for him and describing the prime minister as "scientifically thoughtful".

"Priorities might be out of balance for many world leaders but Prime Minister Modi cares for many things, including solutions. I am not alone when I say that potential what India can accomplish knows no limit," the astrophysicist said.

On PM Modi's meeting with Romer, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted, "A stimulating exchange of views between PM @narendramodi and eminent economist and Nobel laureate Prof @paulmromer." "Discussions touched upon India's digital journey, including the use of Aadhar and innovative tools like Digilocker. Talks also covered various initiatives being undertaken by India for urban development," he tweeted.

Another post by the MEA official described Prime Minister Modi's meeting with Dalio as "fruitful".

"A fruitful meeting between PM @narendramodi and investor, author and co-founder of hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates @RayDalio," he tweeted.

"PM highlighted reforms undertaken by the government to foster economic growth, including reduction of compliances and decriminalisation of large number of legal provisions. PM invited @RayDalio for further investing in India," Mr Bagchi said.

On PM Modi's meeting with author Robert AF Thurman, Bagchi tweeted: "PM @narendramodi held engrossing conversation with acclaimed Buddhist scholar and author, Padma Shri @BobThurman." "Exchanged perspectives on how Buddhist values can act as guiding light for finding solutions to global challenges. Also discussed India's Buddhist connect and efforts being made by India for preservation of Buddhist heritage," the tweet read.

A tweet on the prime minister's meeting with astrophysicist Tyson read: "Catalyzing India-US space collaboration!" "PM @narendramodi interacted with celebrated US astrophysicist, author and science communicator @neiltyson," Bagchi tweeted.

"Exchanged views on inculcating scientific temperament among youth. Discussed at length India's rapid progress in space sector including various space exploration missions being undertaken by India," the tweet read.

The prime minister also highlighted the potential of academic collaboration and private participation in space sector between India and the US under India's National Space Policy, the MEA spokesperson said.

PM Modi is also scheduled to observe the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations headquarters here with the UN leadership and members of the international community.

Representatives of over 188 countries are expected to attend the exercise.

On June 22, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host PM Modi at a State Dinner. The visit also includes an address by the prime minister to the joint session of the US Congress on June 22.

41 women shot, stabbed, burned to death in Honduras prison riot

Honduran President Xiomara Castro said the riot was “planned by maras with the knowledge and acquiescence of security authorities.”

Relatives of inmates wait in distress outside the entrance to the women's prison in Tamara, on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Tuesday, June 20, 2023

A grisly riot at a women’s prison in Honduras Tuesday left at least 41 women dead, most burned to death, in violence the country’s president blamed on “mara” street gangs that often wield broad power inside penitentiaries.

Twenty-six of the victims were burned to death and the remainder shot or stabbed at the prison in Tamara, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, said Yuri Mora, the spokesperson for Honduras’ national police investigation agency. At least seven inmates were being treated at a Tegucigalpa hospital.

“The forensic teams that are removing bodies confirm they have counted 41,” said Mora.

Video clips shown by the government from inside the prison showed several pistols and a heap of machetes and other bladed weapons that were found after the riot.

Honduran President Xiomara Castro said the riot was “planned by maras with the knowledge and acquiescence of security authorities.”

“I am going to take drastic measures!” Castro wrote in her social media accounts.

Prisoners belonging to the feared Barrio 18 gang reportedly burst into a cell block and shot other inmates or set them afire.

Relatives awaiting news about inmates gathered outside the morgue in Tegucigalpa. They confirmed that inmates in the prison had told them they lived in fear of the Barrio 18 gang.

Johanna Paola Soriano Euceda was waiting for news about her mother Maribel Euceda, and sister, Karla Soriano. Both were on trial for drug trafficking, but were held in the same area as convicted prisoners.

Soriano Euceda said they had told her on Sunday that “they (Barrio 18 members) were out of control, they were fighting with them all the time. That was the last time we talked.”

Another group of dozens of anxious, angry relatives gathered outside the prison, located in a rural area about 20 miles (30 kilometers) from the capital.

“We are here dying of anguish, of pain ... we don’t have any information,” said Salom³n Garc­a, whose daughter is an inmate at the facility.

Azucena Martinez, whose daughter was also being held at the prison, said “there are a lot of dead, 41 already. We don’t know if our relatives are also in there, dead.”

Julissa Villanueva, head of the country’s prison system, suggested the riot started because of recent attempts by authorities to crack down on illicit activity inside prisons and called Tuesday’s violence a reaction to moves “we are taking against organized crime.”

“We will not back down,” Villanueva said in a televised address after the riot.

Gangs wield broad control inside the country’s prisons, where inmates often set their own rules and sell prohibited goods.

They were also apparently able to smuggle in guns and other weapons, a recurring problem in Honduran prisons.

“The issue is to prevent people from smuggling in drugs, grenades and firearms,” said Honduran human rights expert Joaquin Mejia. “Today’s events show that they have not been able to do that.”

The riot appears to be the worst tragedy at a female detention center in Central America since 2017, when girls at a shelter for troubled youths in Guatemala set fire to mattresses to protest rapes and other mistreatment at the badly overcrowded institution. The ensuing smoke and fire killed 41 girls.

The worst prison disaster in a century also occurred in Honduras, in 2012 at the Comayagua penitentiary, where 361 inmates died in a fire possibly caused by a match, cigarette or some other open flame.

Tuesday’s riot may increase the pressure on Honduras to emulate the drastic zero-tolerance, no-privileges prisons set in up in neighboring El Salvador by President Nayib Bukele. While El Salvador’s crackdown on gangs has given rise to rights violations, it has also proved immensely popular in a country long terrorized by street gangs.