Major English language newspapers published in different cities in South Asia have given importance to their own national stories on their front pages. In India, the story of the day is the decision by the Uttarakhand High Court that presidential decisions can also be subject to judicial review. In Bangladesh, a dozen people’s death in a traffic accident in Taraganj, Rangapur, has received considerable attention. In Pakistan, the killing of seven security personnel working with polio vaccine administrators, and the surrendering of ‘gangster’ Ghulam Rasool, alias Chotoo, to the Pakistani Army have made headlines on the front page of national dailies.

India

The High Court in Uttarakhand, where President’s rule was declared on March 26 in the wake of a rebellion in the ruling Congress, has said that the President’s move can be subject to judicial review. The Indian Express in its double-column story with a triple-decker headline says, “The Uttarakhand high court said on Wednesday that the President’s decision to suspend the state assembly is “open for judicial review” as even he can go “horribly wrong”.” The report says that in a warning to the Centre, the bench of Chief Justice K M Joseph and Justice V K Bist also “hoped” that the government would not “provoke” the court by revoking President’s Rule till a verdict is delivered on the petition challenging its imposition. The Hindu also has a report on the development. It says quoting the bench that the President could be an excellent person “but he can go terribly wrong.”

Although the news has not made it to the front page of major Indian dailies, The agreement between Indian and China on Wednesday to adhere to “peaceful negotiations” to settle the border issue and reach a “fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution” was widely reported in the media. The decision was taken during the annual 19th round of boundary talks here between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi to discuss the way forward to resolve the dispute which has bedevilled the relations between the two countries, says the Express. 

Bangladesh

The death of 12 people in a head-on collision between two buses in Taragank of Rangapur on Wednesday morning has made it to the front page of most English language dailies in Bangladesh. “The reckless driving of a coach helper filling in for a sleepy driver caused a head-on collision with another bus that left at least 12 dead and 49 injured in Taraganj of Rangpur yesterday,” The Daily Star reports.

The Daily Star also reports that the government is preparing to amend the Broadcast Act to include a provision of term and fine for violators of directives of the proposed broadcast commission. “According to the draft, criminal procedures would be followed in case of probe, trial and appeal concerning any offence that falls under the act. One may face a maximum penalty of three months’ imprisonment or a fine of Tk 5 lakh or both for violating the rules or regulations and orders or directives of the commission, it says,” the paper says in its report.

Dhaka Tribune’s main story for the day is how police have started using a facial composite software to create sketches of criminal suspects’ faces based on descriptions provided by victims or witnesses.
Although such tools are widely used by the police across the world, this is the first time that Bangladesh has introduced such a crime-solving technique,” says the paper.

Pakistan

Attack on police providing security to polio vaccination drive

The attack on police personnel providing security to a polio vaccination drive in Karachi, and the subsequent death of 12 policemen has received the attention of most national papers. The Express Tribune says, “At least seven police officials were killed in two separate attacks as unidentified armed men opened fire at them in Karachi’s Orangi Town on Wednesday.” Pakistan is among the handful of countries in the world where polio is yet to be eradicated.

Chotoo surrenders, army vows to take the fight to the ‘gangsters’

Few hours day after gangster Ghulam Rasool, alias Chotoo, and his men surrendered to the Pakistan Army following three days of talks with elders and influentials of Rajanpur district, the Pakistani military said that it would remain in the riverine area till it was completely cleared of all outlaws, The Dawn reports.  The paper Chotoo belongs to Bakrani clan of Mazari tribe of Rojhan area. He later developed differences with police over unknown reasons and established his own gang to carry out criminal activities.