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Jagmeet Singh’s luxury designer bag sparks debate When Jagmeet Singh stepped out of a hotel, little did he know that his accessory of choice would spark such a heated debate online.

According to one X user, the New Democratic Party leader was

photographed outside a Sheraton hotel in Toronto carrying a black tote bag with a tropical print on the front and “Versace” very clearly emblazoned across the design. One Instagram account also shared the photo Continued on page 4

Canadian housing, health-care woes fuelled by higher immigration numbers A large majority of Canadians are maintaining their sizable agree that higher immigration lead over the governing Liberals. is fuelling the housing crisis The polling, conducted from and putting pressure on Friday to Sunday, found that about the health-care system, a three-quarters of respondents new Leger poll suggests. agreed the increase in immigrants New federal voting intention is adding strain to both the housing numbers from the polling firm market and health-care system. also show that the Conservatives Continued on page 3

Wife of tractor driver speaks day after police chase in Surrey The wife of the tractor driver who flipped the vehicle while being chased by police confirmed her husband, Chilliwack resident Bill Shoker, was behind the wheel.

When Global News went to the Shokers’ home, a woman who identified herself as his wife said Bill Shoker was participating in

Continued on page 10

Continued on page 7

Recall campaign against Surrey NDP MLA Rachna Singh

UBC medical researcher Mohit Sodhi makes Forbes ‘top 30 under 30’ list Medical student Mohit Sodhi, who is winning international acclaim, credits doctors who cared for his sister with giving him the inspiration to follow in their footsteps. At 29 years old, Mohit Sodhi’s CV is so stacked with accomplishments that it’s hard to believe he is just one person.

In a way, he’s not. That’s because the University of B.C. medical student who was just named one of Forbes Top 30 Under 30 in Healthcare isn’t really in it alone. He’s in it with his sister, Rishika.

the “STOP SOGI 123” protest that was a scheduled “Road Rally” starting in Chilliwack and ending in Vancouver.

Manjit Shoker said Bill has been involved in many antiSOGI rallies in the region.

“He is OK, but he is having

Elections BC has given the green light the 30th recall petition in B.C. history.

On Friday, it announced proponent Gurdeep Jassal of Surrey will need signatures of at least 11,811 voters between Nov. 30 and Jan. 29 to unseat NDP Surrey-Green Timbers MLA Rachna Singh. The “RecallRachna. ca” website includes a statement critical of Singh for allowing the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity in B.C. classrooms.

“Education Minister Rachna Singh has been approached via email and phone calls to her office by various people and organizations, but there simply has been no response,” the website states. “This isn’t acceptable. Education minister must be accountable to parents as is the intent of the education in British Columbia.” to

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Saturday, December 2, 2023

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A new website is warning of “a massive, double-digit tax hike” to pay for the Surrey police transition ordered by the B.C. government.

The NDP Surrey Tax site launched Friday, seemingly by the City of Surrey, whose logo appears at the bottom of the page.

It’s taking aim at the BC NDP, which it claims is “trying to force the City of Surrey to accept an expensive, disorganized police transition that will do nothing to improve public safety.”

“The NDP police service will cost Surrey taxpayers nearly half a billion more over the next 10 years, compared to keeping the RCMP,” the website reads. A screenshot of the new NDP Surrey Tax website that was launched by the city amid ongoing tensions with the province around the police transition.

Launch of the website comes just days after the city announced another legal challenge to the police transition directive issued by Solicitor General Mike Farnworth in July of this year.

BC files application for Canada’s first unexplained wealth order: Minister British Columbia’s solicitor general says the government has filed the first-ever application to secure an unexplained wealth order in Canada.

Mike Farnworth says the notice of civil claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court is the start of a series of similar applications, which are powerful tools that “put those engaging in illegal activity on notice.”

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A Surrey, B.C., lifeguard is facing multiple charges related to sexual offences against a child in April.

The 24-year-old was arrested within a week of the April 11 complaint but released from custody under conditions to appear in court at a later date.

The man was charged with sexual

interference, invitation to sexual touching and child luring on Oct. 25, Surrey RCMP said in a Thursday news release.

He has been released again on conditions including regular reporting to a bail supervisor and no communication with or physical proximity to the complainant.

Local / National

Saturday, December 2, 2023

US Justice Department says Indian govt employee involved in Sikh assassination plot The U.S. Justice Department is accusing an Indian government employee of involvement in the assassination of a Sikh separatist, mirroring the claims that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made against India earlier this fall. The U.S. Attorney’s office in New York announced an indictment Wednesday against Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national who the U.S. government alleges conspired with an Indian government official to assassinate a Sikh separatist living in New York City. In a news release, assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen said the government has disrupted a dangerous plot.

“The dedicated law enforcement agents and prosecutors in this case foiled and exposed a dangerous plot to assassinate a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil,” Olsen said.

“The Department of Justice will be relentless in using the full reach of our authorities to pursue accountability for lethal plotting emanating from overseas.”

U.S. officials have not named the victim of the intended assassination plot, but several U.S. media outlets have identified him as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who advocated for a separate Sikh homeland in India.

Pannum was considered a terrorist by the Indian government for his activities promoting Sikh separatism, as was Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Canadian killed in June.

Trudeau said in September that Canada has “credible allegations” that the Indian government was involved in Nijjar’s killing outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia.

Auditor general raises concerns about BC’s bookkeeping for 16th time British Columbia’s auditor general is repeating himself over concerns about the way the provincial government keeps its books, just as the Ministry of Finance’s quarterly report projects a $5.6-billion deficit.

Michael Pickup says if B.C’s financial statements followed Canadian public sector accounting standards there would be about another $7 billion in the revenue column, and liabilities would have dropped by the same amount.

This is the 16th time Pickup’s office has “qualified” its audit report, meaning it couldn’t say the financial

statements were fairly presented.

Pickup says the way the province records money it receives for specific projects is incorrect because instead of counting the cash as revenue as soon as a building is complete, a portion is counted each year across the project’s lifetime.

He also says government documents don’t disclose all the money it’s contractually committed to spend in the future, and they don’t include gaming revenues earned and transferred under the B.C. First Nations Gaming Revenue Sharing Agreement.

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Canadian housing, health-care woes fuelled by higher immigration numbers Nearly two-thirds of respondents, or 63 per cent, said the volume of newcomers is also adding pressure to the country’s education systems. But the poll shows that Canadians see some benefits to higher immigration, too.

The lawyers in the criminal trial of two “Freedom Convoy” organizers are

expected to continue their debate today over whether Tamara Lich and Chris Barber were co-conspirators in the protest.

Both are charged with mischief and intimidation, among other charges, for their role in the early 2022 protests against COVID-19 public-health restrictions.

Liberals say pharmacare bill unlikely to pass this year, despite promise to NDP Government House leader Karina Gould warned Tuesday the Liberals are unlikely to get a pharmacare bill passed by the end of the year, despite their promise to do so in an agreement with the NDP. “I don’t think we’re going to get it passed by the end of this year, but we’ll definitely keep working,” Gould said on Parliament Hill.

The two parties are still hammering out the details of a bill and it’s a “productive” conversation, she added. U.S. officials have not named the victim of the intended assassination plot, but several U.S. media outlets have identified him as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who advocated for a separate Sikh homeland in India.

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From page 1

Jagmeet Singh’s luxury designer bag sparks debate

with the caption: “Champagne socialist Jagmeet Singh spotted with a Versace tote bag yesterday.” According to the Versace site, prices for tote bags start at around $1,000 but can go up to $2,000. Singh’s bag doesn’t look like a recent model as the

same canvas tote bag is no longer available on Versace’s site. However, there is one that’s currently listed on the popular resale site Poshmark for US$750. For Canadians struggling amidst an affordability crisis, it wasn’t a good look for the NDP leader.

The photo drew harsh criticism, with one

commenter calling him “The Rolex socialist.”

“LOL, this dude calling out ‘corporate greed’ while he buys Versace,” stated another. One X user was more concerned about the tropical print, calling it “obnoxious.” Others didn’t understand why a designer handbag was setting people off.

One Instagram commenter asked, “Why does it matter how HE CHOOSES to spend his money?” Where do you stand on the Singh-Versace debate?

House of Commons denounces claim Christmas stat day is ‘systematic religious discrimination’ The House of Commons has unanimously adopted a Bloc Quebecois motion Thursday that denounces a recent discussion paper suggesting the Christmas statutory holiday amounts to “systemic religious discrimination.” The motion, brought forward by Bloc Quebecois House Leader Alain Therrien, called for the House to denounce the Canadian Human Rights Commission’s (CHRC) paper. The wording of the motion says that the House should “recall that Christmas is a tradition celebrated in Quebec and Canada” and “denounce the CHRC’s statement that ‘statutory holidays related to Christianity, including Christmas and Easter,’ represent an ‘obvious example’ of ‘systemic religious discrimination,’ and that this ‘discrimination against religious minorities in Canada is grounded in Canada’s history of colonialism.’” It goes on to ask the House to “denounce all attempts to polarize events that have been part of Quebec and Canadian heritage for generations” and “invite all Quebecers and Canadians to unite as we approach the Christmas season.”

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Statement on the 25th Commemoration of the assassination of newspaper editor & publisher Tara Singh Hayer Press release who, through his or her work, has made Tara Singh Hayer (Nov. 15, 1936 – to Punjabi Journalism in Canada, the an important contribution to reinforcing November 18, 1998) was an Indo-Canadian Commemorative Medal for the 125th and promoting the principle of freedom Times Punjabi Weekly newspaper’s editor Anniversary of Canada, the International of the press in Canada or elsewhere. & publisher, who was assassinated in Award of Distinction for Journalism from the In 2000 Tara Singh Hayer’s name was Surrey, Canada on November 18,1998 International Association of Punjabi Authors added to the Canadian News Hall of Fame. after reporting about terrorism, he was and Artists, a Certificate of Appreciation from He was the first Canadian of non-English, recognized with hundreds local, provincial, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). non-French origin to be added to the Hall. national, and international awards.

In 1999, Canadian Journalists for Free In 2000, Tara Singh Hayer was also Some of those awards include: The Expression renamed its Press Freedom selected as one of the International Order of British Columbia, the Journalist Award the “Tara Singh Hayer Press Freedom Press Institute’s (IPI) 50 World Press Award by the Municipality of Surrey for Award” in Hayer’s honour. Each year, the Freedom Heroes of the past 50 years. courageous and outstanding contribution award is given to a Canadian journalist Dave S. Hayer E: Dave.S.Hayer@gmail.com

From page 1

Wife of tractor driver speaks day after police chase in Surrey

surgery either today or Monday,” Manjit said.

“I think they are saying his backbone is broken or something like that. I do not know when he will return home. There are still tests they are doing.”

Visit our Website

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Majit said the incident was scary for her, and she does not know how or why the police chase began or why Shoker chose to drive a tractor.

8

Saturday, December 2, 2023

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Brothers Keepers gangster found guilty of two murders in BC Found guilty of first-degree murder of rival gangster Randy Kang in Surrey in 2017 and for gunning down Jagvir Malhi, an unintentional target, in 2018 in Abbotsford. Sentencing to follow. A B.C. Supreme Court judge has convicted a hitman with the Brothers Keepers gang of two counts of first-degree murder for targeted shootings in 2017 and 2018.

Justice Miriam Gropper read her ruling over several hours on Monday as Tyrel Nguyen listened from the prisoner’s box, with about 20 family members and other supporters in the Vancouver courtroom.

She said Crown prosecutors had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Nguyen had committed the first-degree murders of rival gangster Randy Kang, in Surrey

on Oct. 27, 2017, and of Jagvir Malhi, an unintentional target, on Nov. 12, 2018, in Abbotsford. He was also found guilty of attempted murder of Gary Kang, Randy’s brother, and associate Camilo Alonso on the night of Kang’s murder.

The sentence will be decided at a later date.

Nguyen’s mother covered her face with her hands after the verdicts were read.

When the court announced a short break, Nguyen, who was wearing a light grey suit with a purple patterned pocket square and his hair braided in four tight braids that reached past his shoulders, stood and looked back at his mother and gave her a half smile and a short shrug.

Nguyen has been in custody since December 2019 when he was charged with the murders.

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Police investigate daylight shooting in Burnaby RCMP were called to the Brentwood area of Burnaby, B.C., on Thursday for a reported shooting.

In a media release, Burnaby RCMP said the gunfire broke out shortly after noon in the 4300-block of Dawson Street.

A grey pickup truck with multiple bullet holes in the front windshield was behind police tape at the scene.

Incredibly, police said no one was injured in the attack. RCMP are also

From page 1

investigating a torched vehicle found in the 8700-block of Maple Grove Crescent about 20 minutes after the shooting.

“The incident appears to be targeted,” Cpl. Mike Kalanj said. “Police will remain the area for quite some time.”

Dawson Street was closed in both directions between Madison and Rosser avenues.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Burnaby RCMP at 604-646-9999

UBC medical researcher Mohit Sodhi makes Forbes ‘top 30 under 30’ list

Rishika, who has complex medical needs including cerebral palsy, quadriplegia, severe autism and mental-health issues, can’t attend classes, or publish groundbreaking research, and probably will never receive a medal, but she’s been part

of Sodhi’s journey every step of the way.

“She’s my motivation, and she is the reason I am doing all of this,” said Sodhi, who lives at home with his parents and helps them manage her care.

AG defends comments on judge training after BC voyeur escapes jail time British Columbia’s attorney general is firing back, following criticism from the legal profession about her comments regarding a recent voyeurism case.

In letters published this week, both the Canadian Bar Association’s B.C. Branch and the Law Society of B.C. raised concerns Sharma risked interfering

with the independence of the judiciary and undermining the rule of law.

The case, first reported by Global News, involved a West Vancouver man who received a conditional discharge after admitting to using a hidden camera to capture nude images of an international student living in his home.

Police Board Administrator says provisional budget will give Surrey ‘confidence’ to move ahead with SPS Surrey Police Board Administrator Mike Serr is delivering a 2024 provisional budget to the City of Surrey today (Nov. 30) for the Surrey Police Service as the fledgling force aims to replace the Surrey RCMP, a move that the majority on Surrey city

council remains vehemently opposed to.

“I believe this budget, along with its underlying assumptions, will give city council the confidence in moving this transition forward,” Serr said.

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Well known Sikh Scholar, Dr. Kala Singh spoke about preachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. In picture Dr Singh with guests & members. The event was organized by Surendra Kumar Handa on November 27. Photo by Girja Shankar Sharma

Community news Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society of BC, is going to celebrate Christmas & Group birthday on 27th December 2023 (Wednesday) at Ultimate Banquet hall 8072 - 120th street Surrey BC, starting at 6.00 pm to 9.30 pm -------------------------Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society of BC invites South Asian Adults and Senior members only to join and play Bingo on the House on December 3rd 2023 (Sunday) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall.

-------------------------In Person Yoga classes for members only, on Every Monday & Every Thursday will continue by Mr. Ashwani Bansal expert Yoga Instructor from 10.00 am to 11.15 am & will help to observe & guide the seniors to do correct yoga.

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INDIA India in talks with Boeing, Blue Origin for space partnerships

India’s space agency is exploring joint collaborations with Boeing Co., Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin LLC and Voyager Space Holdings Inc., as an official visit by the head of NASA highlights the growing level of cooperation between the US and India in outer space. The

potential partnerships could also involve Indian commercial entities, India’s Department of Space said in a statement Wednesday. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is visiting several locations in India this week, including Bengalurubased facilities that are testing and integrating

India forms committee to look into security concerns raised by US India will formally investigate security concerns aired by the United States in a warning to New Delhi about its links to a foiled plot to murder a Sikh separatist leader, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday (Nov 29).

The issue comes at a delicate time for both India and the Biden administration as they try to build closer ties in the face of an ascendant China perceived as a threat for both democracies. Just a week

Indian man arrested for killing grandparents & uncle in USA A 23-year-old Indian student has been arrested and charged for allegedly murdering his grandparents and uncle inside a New Jersey condominium, the police and media reports said.

Om Brahmbhatt is accused of shooting

Dilipkumar Brahmbhatt (72), Bindu Brahmbhatt (72), and Yashkumar Brahmbhatt (38), the South Plainfield Police Department and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement. Officers responded around 9

Highest French civil award for ISRO scientist V R Lalithambika, former Director, Directorate of the Human Spaceflight Programme, ISRO, was conferred the top French civilian honour of Legion d’Honneur for her engagement in space

cooperation between France and India. The award was given to her by Ambassador of France to India, Thierry Mathou, on behalf of the French government, here on Tuesday.

1.4 lakh US visas issued to Indian students US Embassy and Consulates in India issued an all-time record of more than 1,40,000 student visas from October 2022 through September 2023, the State Department announced.

Stating that international students at US colleges and universities inject up

to $38 billion annually into the country’s economy, the department said on Tuesday that it issued more than 6,00,000 student visas — the highest in any year since FY 2017. During the main student visa season of June-August 2023, consular officers across India issued 95,269 visas in the F, M,

How rat miners rescued workers from tunnel after 17 days Forty-one construction workers.

Seventeen days. A nation’s hopes.

On Tuesday, rescue workers managed to bring India a dose of good news, saving 41 men who had been trapped under a collapsed tunnel in India’s Himalayan

Uttarakhand state since November 12. But after days of attempts, it wasn’t just hightech tools that brought success — a team of so-called rat miners, practicing a craft that’s officially illegal, proved saviours too.

Birla daughter’s Microfinance company now India’s 2nd largest Commodities tycoon Kumar Mangalam Birla’s 29-year-old daughter, Ananya Birla, who started microfinance company Svatantra Microfin when she was just 17, completed the acquisition of rival

Chaitanya India Fin Credit (owned by Indian billionaire Sachin Bansal) last week.

The Chaitanya deal made Svatantra the second-largest player among microfinance institutions under the non-banking finance

India allots $142 Billion for free grains to 800 Million people India’s cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to spend 11.8 trillion rupees ($142 billion) to extend a free food program for about 800 million beneficiaries for five years.

The new plan will come into effect from Jan. 1, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told reporters at a briefing in New Delhi.

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Saturday, December 2, 2023

Defence panel approves Rs 2.23 lakh-crore to boost armed forces India on Thursday accorded an initial approval to defence acquisition projects worth Rs 2.23 lakh-crore that included procurement of 97 Tejas light combat aircraft and 156 Prachand combat helicopters, in a major move to significantly enhance the combat capabilities of the armed forces.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, cleared the projects, at a time India is locked in a bitter military standoff with China at a number of friction points in eastern Ladakh for over three years.

Tata Motors launches registered vehicle scrapping facility Leading automobile manufacturer Tata Motors launched a registered vehicle scrapping facility (RVSF) in Punjab, which will be the company’s fourth such unit.

Named ‘Re.Wi.Re Recycle with Respect,’ the facility was unveiled in Morinda by Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director, Tata Motors and

Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, a company statement said here on Tuesday.

The facility uses environmentally friendly processes and has the capacity to disassemble 12,000 end-oflife vehicles safely sustainably, each year.

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Couple gets married on board plane A woman, dressed in bridal attire, walked down the aisle of a Boeing 747 plane to exchange her wedding vows in an unconventional way thousands of feet above the ground.

The Boeing 747 was transformed into a stunning venue for the quintessential big fat Indian wedding of Vidhi Popley

and Hridesh Sainani. Over 300 flyers dressed in ethnic were the couple’s guests and flew from Dubai to Oman, Dubai-based Brew News reported.

The groom arrived in a red Ferrari at the airport’s tarmac with the ‘baraat’ to take the board the flight to marry Vidhi.

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Saturday, December 2, 2023

FIJI

PAKISTAN

Fuel prices go down while gas prices to increase Good news as there will be a huge drop in fuel prices from tomorrow however, the price of gas will increase.

The Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications in conjunction with the Fijian Competition and Consumer

Commission has announced that the price of unleaded fuel will go down by 16 cents to $3.02 per litre.

Diesel will now cost $2.83 per litre which is a 20 cent decrease.

Kerosene will now cost $2.22 per litre while the price of premix has gone down down

1,968 cases of child abuse reported last year The statistics from 2022 paint a stark picture with 1,968 reported cases of child abuse and neglect in Fiji.

Acting Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Filimoni Vosarogo

highlighted this at Furnival Park this morning during the International Day for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect saying behind these numbers lie the stories of innocent souls subjected to neglect, physical abuse,

Govt investigates $122 million wind turbine deal Acting Prime Minister, Manoa Kamikamica confirms the government has started investigations into the $122 million Power Purchase Agreement, dealing with wind turbines, signed between the Ministry

of Fisheries and Forestry and American company Infinite Power Clean Energy Fiji.

Kamikamica has revealed in a press conference that investigations have begun by the Ministry of Finance,

Court acquits Nawaz Sharif in two corruption cases Islamabad High Court on Wednesday acquitted former PM Nawaz Sharif in two cases of corruption in which he was convicted in 2018.

73-years-old Sharif

Man enrols in Class one at the age of 65 says he was too poor to go to school In testimony to his boundless passion for knowledge, 65-year-old Pakistani man, Dilawar Khan, has etched his name in history by shattering societal norms and enrolling in Class 1 at Government Primary School, Khongai.

August 28, 2023. Picture: ANISH CHAND No person living as a squatter can threaten anybody, according to Home Affairs and Immigration Minister Pio Tikoduadua.

and it looks like it may finally be causing prices to drop for some housing types.

As the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) notes in its latest report, sales remained low through last month, with seven per cent fewer new homes sold compared to the same time last year, marking a 50 per cent drop from our hot market’s 10-year average.

formation of a commission to probe all issues faced his party ahead of elections.

In a seven-page letter to Chief Justice Isa, Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-

Govt orders closure of schools to mitigate smog in winter Amid ‘calamitous’ levels of smog in Punjab, the government has announced the closure of schools three days a week and of private offices two days a week, the provincial administration said in

New condo prices dropped by double digits Real Estate in Toronto It’s no wonder why home sales in and around Toronto have been tanking for months, but stakeholders are growing increasingly concerned with the snowballing impacts of a lack of market activity.

Inflated interest rates, an outrageously high cost of living and a floundering economy have pushed even the usual players (read: investors) far away from the real estate game,

His extraordinary decision has earned him accolades, with the school administration applauding his commitment to lifelong learning and recognising the positive effect it is set to have on society.

Imran Khan seeks commission to probe harassment against party workers Politician Imran Khan on Thursday urged Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa to take cognizance of the alleged political victimisation of his party workers, including their abductions and disappearances and sought the

No person can threaten anybody - Tikoduadua Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Pio Tikoduadua, left, with officer-in-charge of Rakiraki Police ASP Kelepi Bisi, right, listen to Rarapatu resident Balram at a public consultation in Rakiraki on Monday,

was convicted in July 2018 and handed jail time in the Avenfield properties corruption case and about assets abroad beyond known income, then he left for London

separate notifications on Wednesday.

The latest ranking showed the PM2.5 concentration in Lahore, the capital of Punjab, at 36.9 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value.

West Vancouver rental motion shot down

West Vancouver District councillors shot down a proposal on Monday that was aimed at protecting 30 properties in the Ambleside area as rental-only in the future.

The majority of the buildings outlined in the motion were purposebuilt as rentals as long ago as the 1960s.

The buildings now mostly house middle or

low-income seniors who, on average, pay 1,000 less than other rentals in West Vancouver.

If passed, the move would have restricted property owners’ ability to redevelop the buildings. If they are eventually redeveloped, it could result in a permanent loss of rental housing in the area.

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Sikh family on pilgrimage to Pakistan robbed at gunpoint A Sikh family from India was robbed by ‘men dressed in police uniform’ in Lahore, police said.

According to police, Kanwal Jeet Singh and his family who arrived here from India to attend Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary festivities had gone to Liberty Market in Gulberg area of Lahore for shopping on his return from Gurdwara Janamasthan, Nankana Sahib, on Wednesday. “When the Sikh family came out of a shop, two robbers in police uniform stopped them and snatched cash and jewellery at gunpoint,” police spokesperson Ehtasham Haider told PTI. He said the men robbed the family of Indian rupees 2.5 lakh and Pakistani rupees 1.5 lakh besides jewellery.

Punjab Police arrest notorious gangster Punjab Police, Counter IntelligenceJalandhar apprehended notorious gangster Karanjit Singh alias Jassa Happowal, an operative of foreignbased gangster Sonu Khatri.

Taking to X, the Punjab DGP shared the information. “Gangster Jassa Happowal was wanted in at least six murder cases, including the sensational double-murder of a mother and daughter, which took place in Bhojowal village in Jalandhar rural last month, and other heinous crimes,” he added.

The accused had also put kerosene oil on the bodies and faces of both women before setting them ablaze, police said.

Former minister Sadhu Singh’s house raided The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday raided multiple locations in Punjab of former state forest minister and Congress leader Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and some contractors in an alleged forest scam-linked moneylaundering case, official sources said.

As many as 14 locations in the state are being searched by the agency under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said. The premises of Dharamsot, 63, a forest contractor and some others are being covered, they said.

The five-time MLA was arrested earlier this year by the Punjab Vigilance bureau as part of a case linked to the alleged possession of disproportionate assets.

PUNJAB

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Saturday, December 2, 2023