Ex-Pak minister on stage with LeT terrorists, praises Hafiz Saeed, threatens India

Journalist Aman Chopra, a correspondent with News18 India and host of the YouTube channel The Aman Podcast, stated on Monday that the Jharkhand Police had filed a first information report (FIR) against him following the publication of a video he had filmed at a hospital during ongoing protests. The incident occurred on Saturday, when Chopra reportedly entered the High Dependency Unit (HDU) of Sadar Hospital in Ranchi without authorization and recorded video footage of a student who had been participating in a hunger strike against alleged irregularities in the conduct of competitive examinations for government jobs. According to the FIR, which circulated on social media, Chopra violated infection-control and patient-safety protocols and may have disclosed private medical information without consent. In a video posted on social media, Chopra recounted being detained by the police while having breakfast and subjected to questioning for approximately two hours before receiving a copy of the FIR. He claimed that other journalists covering the protests and the subsequent march toward the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly were also detained and interrogated. Chopra accused the government of attempting to suppress the truth, stating, “The Jharkhand government is worried that the truth will be exposed. That is why it is stopping journalists from doing their work. The FIR is the price we have to pay for doing our job.” The protests, which have lasted 17 days, began on July 25, inspired by nationwide agitations against the alleged mismanagement of national competitive exams. Thousands of students gathered at Ranchi’s Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, where they have maintained a sit-in, with six participants continuing a hunger strike. The demonstrations have centered on the demand to cancel the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission Combined Preliminary Test, held on April 19, and to initiate investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate into irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission. On Sunday, the Jharkhand government agreed to cancel three examinations, including the Jharkhand Public Service Commission Combined Civil Services test. However, students have persisted in their demands, calling for the cancellation of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level examination and a comprehensive probe by the CBI into all state-level public service commission tests. Despite these efforts, the government has rejected the call to cancel the graduate-level examination, citing its oversight by the Supreme Court and the Jharkhand High Court. Instead, it has proposed a high-level judicial inquiry led by a retired judge to examine the allegations. Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists has expressed concern over the police investigation against Chopra, urging a transparent and proportionate review that does not impede legitimate journalistic activity. During the protests, law enforcement used lathi charges and tear gas, resulting in injuries among demonstrators. Despite these measures, protesters managed to breach barricades and reach the Assembly premises, although the House had already been adjourned for the day. Separately, former Pakistan minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has faced backlash for appearing at an event alongside Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, praising the organization’s leader Hafiz Saeed and making inflammatory statements against India. In a video, Rasheed, who previously served as Pakistan’s Interior Minister under Imran Khan’s government, claimed to be a “slave of Hafiz Saeed” and asserted that Allah would destroy India if it “even looks towards Pakistan.” His comments sparked outrage, with critics condemning his association with terrorist figures and his rhetoric. Additionally, there has been renewed speculation about the health of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, following claims by Pakistani journalist Wajahat Khan that three senior military officials feared Khan might no longer be alive. While Khan emphasized that the information was not independently verified, the PTI party threatened mass protests if access to Khan was denied. International attention has also focused on the situation, with U.S. lawmakers requesting intervention regarding Khan’s detention conditions. These developments underscore the complex interplay of domestic and international pressures on Pakistan’s political landscape.