NEW YORK, Dec 29 (UNI): For the first time, an Indian-American has become the governor of a US state, though for a day.
An immigrant from India, Kris Kolluri, became the governor of neighboring New Jersey yesterday.
Kolluri, 38, who immigrated along with his family to the United States 21 years ago, held the august office just for one day as Governor Jon S Corzine and three others who could have succeeded him were out of state capital Trenton.
They were on a holiday.
Kolluri was quoted as saying in news reports, "At best my family will call me governor.
At worst, I am a 'Jeopardy' question." "Jeopardy" is a TV game in which general knowledge questions that are sometimes of minor importance are asked.
Kolluri is the Transportation Secretary of the state and he is the fourth in line of succession to the post of governor.
Pak HR body opposes Media Bill aimed at "pressurising newspapers to toe govt line" ISLAMABAD, Dec 29 (Agencies): The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has opposed the Press and Publications Regulatory Authority (PAPRA) Bill, saying that it "intended to put pressure on newspapers to toe the government line".
The human rights body said that the Bill was "not needed at all".
HRCP Director IA Rehman said that apparently the Bill was designed to meet the requirements of fixing rates of government advertisements and preparation of the central media list.
"We do not see the justification for regulating the print media when deregulation is the order of the day.
We are opposed to this system because it is an instrument of putting pressure on newspapers to toe the government line.
All public sector offices should be free to release their publicity to whichever publications they think enjoy good circulation," the Dawn quoted Rehman as saying in a statement issued yesterday.
Rehman, a veteran journalist, said that it was difficult to see what the bill meant by "efforts to streamline registration of newspapers and periodicals etc" when the matter was covered under the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Book Registration Ordinance 2002.
PAPRA will have far greater authority than the existing Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) "and we do not see the justification for that," added Rehman.
He further said: "The ABC has no power to punish anyone while PAPRA will have the authority to impose heavy fines and prosecute media people on charges carrying the punishment of imprisonment." Musharraf re-elected by sitting assemblies will be immoral, illegal: Rabbani ISLAMABAD, Dec 29 (Agencies): Pakistan Opposition Leader in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani has refuted the assertion that the sitting assemblies could elect President Pervez Musharraf for another term.
He subbed such an act as immoral.
"There is no moral or legal justification for the present assemblies to elect General Pervez Musharraf," The News quoted him as saying while talking to reporters here last evening.
He, however, said that the National Assembly, which will complete its tenure in November 2007, does not have the power to elect Musharraf for another five-year term.
"Those who are issuing statements to get General Pervez Musharraf elected by the current assemblies are ignorant of the legal aspects of the issue.
Only the 'Q-Leaguers' want this, as they are aware that without Musharraf they have no political role to play," he added.
Rabbani, a PPP parliamentarian, said that if free, fair and transparent elections were held in the country, only his party would emerge victorious with a two-thirds majority.