Six dead in cylinder blast in Pakistan's Balochistan
Islamabad (PTI): At least six people of a family, including children, were killed on Sunday in a cylinder blast in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, according to a media report.
The blast occurred when the family tried to switch on a heater to fight the intensely cold weather in the provincial capital Quetta, the ARY news channel reported.
The entire house was damaged due to the explosion caused by gas leakage.
The report said that the bodies were shifted to a hospital, but the identities of the deceased could not be ascertained.
Most parts of Balochistan, including the capital Quetta, are experiencing a bitter cold, with the mercury dropping to -10 C to -15 C in some areas, the Dawn newspaper reported.
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Waqf Bill anti-secular, will snatch rights of Muslims: Mamata Banerjee
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday described the Waqf (Amendment) Bill as “anti-secular”, claiming that it would snatch the rights of Muslims.
Banerjee, speaking in the assembly, also said the Centre did not consult with states over the matter.
“The bill is anti-federal and anti-secular; it is a deliberate attempt to malign a particular section. It will snatch the rights of Muslims... The Centre did not consult with us on the Waqf Bill,” she said.
The chief minister added that “if any religion was attacked”, she would wholeheartedly condemn it.
Opposition parties have stridently criticised the amendments proposed by the bill in the existing Waqf Act, alleging that they violate the religious rights of Muslims.
The ruling BJP has asserted that the amendments will bring transparency in the functioning of the Waqf boards and make them accountable.
A parliamentary committee has been constituted to scrutinise the contentious bill.
