General Bikram Singh assumes charge as new Army chief - India Today

Gen Bikram Singh, a veteran infantry officer, on Thursday took over as the 25th Chief of the Indian Army succeeding Gen V K Singh whose 26-month tenure was mired in controversies.

59-year-old Gen Bikram Singh will have a tenure of two years and three months in the top post.

Prior to his appointment as Army Chief, Gen Bikram was commanding the Kolkata-based Eastern Army Command.

He has held several important appointments in counter insurgency areas as the Corps Commander of Srinagar-based 15 Corps and Akhnoor-based 10 Division as Major General.

The officer, better known as 'Bikki' to his friends, was commissioned into the Sikh Light Infantry regiment on March 31, 1972 after attending the prestigious Indian Military Academy (IMA).

At the IMA, he held the appointment of battalion cadet adjutant and was awarded the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles gold medal for 'tactics and leadership' and the Shriganesh Trophy.

He was awarded the 'Commando Dagger' and the 'Best in Tactics' trophy during his young officers' course at Infantry School.

He also served as an instructor at the Commando Wing of the Infantry School in Belgaum.

The officer was the face of the Army during the Kargil war when he was serving in the Military Operations Directorate here and used to brief the media about the progress in operations to drive out enemy troops from Indian territory.

As a brigadier, Singh attended the US Army War College in Pennsylvania and has served in two assignments with the United Nations in Central America and as the deputy force commander and GOC of Eastern Division in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Gen Bikram Singh is married to Surjeet Kaur and the couple have two children.

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Balochistan case:Attorney General resigns - PakistanToday.com.pk

QUETTA - Deputy Attorney General Malik Sikander on Tuesday resigned from his position before a bench of the Supreme Court hearing the Balochistan law and order and missing persons’ case.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussian and Justice Jawad S. Khwaja was hearing a petition on the law and order situation and human rights violations in Balochistan at the Quetta registry of Supreme Court, a private TV channel reported.

Chief Secretary to Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani, Hafiz Abdul Basit, appeared before the bench.

The deputy attorney general told the bench that he had delivered the court’s summons to the relevant authorities.

Addressing Sikander, Justice Khilji said: “You think that the problems of 17 crore people would be solved by 17 judges…why are others not fulfilling their responsibilities?” Sikander did not respond to the court’s questions.

Chief Justice Iftikhar said “we do not want lip service…we want the orders to be implemented.”

The chief minister should have appeared before the bench himself, the chief justice said, adding that by this time, Raisani should have sacked six ministers from the Balochistan cabinet.

“We want to save Balochistan…the law and order situation in the province is alarming and kidnappings and targeted killings are still going on,” Justice Iftikhar said.

The police have “failed to apprehend a single suspect” in these incidents, he said, adding that allegations were continually being made against the Frontier Corps (FC) and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

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Bhoja aircraft banned for general flights - Pakistan Observer

Islamabad?The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Tuesday banned Bhoja Air Lines planes for general flights after finding some of the planes unfit to fly.

CAA had started inspection of passenger aircrafts operated by private airlines earlier on Monday after the fatal crash in Islamabad.

According to a private television channel, Airworthiness Instructor CAA cancelled the Airworthiness Certificate for 2 flights of Bhoja Airlines bound for Islamabad via Lahore from Karachi.

? During inspection?, Instructor said, ? Planes were found unfit for general flights both domestic and international. They are grounded until clearance and obtainment of Airworthiness Certificate?.

He further added that objections were raised on the constituent parts of Bhoja Airlines planes including Landing Gear and Doors during inspection.

Planes carrying national flag of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had already obtained airworthiness certificate from CAA.

Captain Mujahid al Islam, head of the team probing Bhoja Airline?s airliner crash, has said that the investigation into the tragic incident could take three months.

While talking to media at the crash site in Hussainabad on Tuesday he said several evidences of the incident have been sealed, adding that work to remove the remains would be begun within two days.

It is pertinent to mention here that a nine-member team is investigating the issue. The number of the team can be raised if needed.

A team of insurance company has also reached Pakistan which would provide compensation to the affected families after investigative report is finalised.

Meanwhile the Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that there should be an independent judicial commission for investigation into Bhoja air liner crash, which took lives of 127 passengers and crew members.

Addressing the laptop distributing ceremony to the female students who showed outstanding academic performances in Allama Iqbal Government Girls College, he said ?I see a ray of hope and enthusiasm among students and hope the students will change the future of Pakistan?. He added that the students can save Pakistan from Ali Baba and forty thieves who are hell bent in looting the country.

The chief minister further said that 127 people lost their precious lives in the ill-fated air crash and the government was bound to set up an independent judicial commission for investigation in the tragic incident.

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