RAMESHWOR KHANAL APPOINTED PM'S ECONOMIC ADVISOR

RAMESHWOR KHANAL APPOINTED PM’S ECONOMIC ADVISOR

Kathmandu, 28Sept. Rameshwor Khanal , who created a stir when he resigned as finance secretary in the previous government of Prime Minister Jhalanath
Khanal, was appointed economic advisor to Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai througha cabinet decision.
Maoists were part of the Khanal government.
Bharat Mohan Adhikari was finance minister when Khanal resigned as secretary accusing the Maoist/UML government of bypassing him while preparing an annual budget. .
Khanal has worked with PM Bhattarai when he was finance minister.
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AHMAD LAID TO REST IN SUNSARI

Kathmandu, 28 Sept.: The entire Muslim community was in a state of shock on Tuesday following the cold blooded murder of Islamic Association General Secretary Faizan Ahmad, Navin Ahikari reports in The Kathmandu Post..

As police stood clueless about the assassins, a sense of anger and frustration was visible on Tuesday among the bereaved family members, the larger Muslim community and the general public both in Kathmandu and Ahmad’s home district in Sunsari.

Heartfelt condolences poured in from political parties, civil society organisations and different faith groups throughout the day.

Parties including the Nepali Congress (NC) demanded immediate probe into the incident and action against the murderers. Ahmad’s body was taken to Sunsari on a helicopter on Tuesday.

Islamic Association Chairman Nazarul Hasan read the last prayers and Ahmad was laid to rest according to Islamic tradition in Bokraha.

Ahmad’s wife Meher Banu, two sons and a new-born daughter all travelled to Sunsari along with members of the association.

Before being flown to Sunsari, the body was kept at the Jame Masjid in Ghantaghar in Kathmandu for members of the community in Kathmandu to pay their last respects to the departed soul.

“As per the Islamic tradition, female members of the family don’t attend the last rites. As such, Ahmad’s wife Banu remained at home,” Hasan told the Post over telephone.

After the funeral, the focus of the family members and relatives has shifted to the future of the three children.

On Monday evening, Home Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar assured Ahmad’s relatives that the government would bear the education expenses of the children and that a serious probe would be carried out into the incident.

On Tuesday evening, the Cabinet formed a committee to investigate the murder.

“We hope the government is serious about the investigation and we also sincerely hope that it does not back track from its promises to educate the children,” Hasan said.

Ahmad’s elder brother Dr Imran Ansari said Ahmad was not involved in anything controversial and there was no reason for someone to take his life.

The Islam Association Nepal has condemned the attack. In a statement, it said the incident has left the Muslim community of Nepal “stunned and fearful.”

HITMEN’S SKETCHES RELEASED
Police on Tuesday made public the sketches of those involved in the killing of Faizan Ahmad, the General Secretary of Nepal Islamic Association. The Metropolitan Police Crime Division prepared the sketches with help from witnesses. The men are sparsely bearded wearing blue raincoats. Police said the two shooters are probably in their early thirties. The sketch differs with media reports that said earlier that one of the perpetrators had a French-cut beard and the other was heavily bearded. Officers investigating the case said four men were involved in the killing. “Had the first duo failed, two more men were ready to complete the murder,” a police officer said, citing intelligence
reports.
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