THE Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has rejected the government's suggestion to delay the upcoming polls in Pakistani Kashmir due to Covid-19, former Pakistan prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said on Monday (1).
Ashraf said the PPP would not let the government "steal the people's mandate", reported The News International. "PPP rejects the decision to delay and rig the elections," he said.
The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan’s coronavirus monitoring body, on Sunday (31) suggested postponing the upcoming elections by two months, a media report said.
In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistani Kashmir, the federal government said due to the rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the country, the polls should be delayed. It said, “There is a possibility of the spread of the virus due to large political gatherings.”
The NCOC also said one million residents of Pakistani Kashmir could be vaccinated by September 2021. The Kashmir Assembly's term ends on July 29, but so far, a schedule for the new election has not been issued.
Earlier on Sunday, Pakistani Kashmir's prime minister Raja Farooq Haider also voiced his opposition to delaying elections in the region. "Elections can only be postponed if there is external aggression," Haider said.
Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in northwest of London, in July 2024. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Crossbow murderer found guilty of raping ex-girlfriend
A 26-YEAR-OLD man who murdered three women in a crossbow and stabbing attack has been found guilty of raping one of them, his ex-girlfriend, a British court ruled on Thursday.
Kyle Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in Bushey, northwest of London, in July 2024.
The attack led to a manhunt before Clifford was found injured hours later in a north London cemetery.
A jury at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday convicted Clifford of raping 25-year-old Louise Hunt before killing her.
His sentencing for all the crimes is scheduled for Tuesday.
Clifford had admitted to murdering Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Louise and Hannah, 28. He had also pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment and possessing offensive weapons but denied raping Louise.
During the trial, the court heard that after killing Carol Hunt, Clifford waited for an hour before attacking Louise, tying her up, raping her, and then killing her with a crossbow. He later killed Hannah when she returned home from work.
The prosecution described Clifford, a former soldier, as committing a "violent, sexual act of spite" and said he was "enraged" after Louise ended their 18-month relationship. They told the court that he had "carefully planned" the attack.
Less than 24 hours before the killings, Clifford had searched for a podcast by social media influencer Andrew Tate, according to the prosecution. They argued that the murders were driven by the "violent misogyny promoted" by Tate.
Justice Joel Bennathan called Clifford’s crimes "dreadful" and "almost unspeakable".
(With inputs from AFP)