NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK

EVEN AS THE SUPREME COURT IN INDIA IS SEEKING OPINION ON BANNING CONVICTED NETAS FROM HEADING PARTIES, PAKISTAN HAS GONE A STEP AHEAD AND IMPLEMENTED THE MOVE. IT IS A WELCOME MOVE IN MOVING TOWARDS CLEAN POLITICS.

NAWAZ SHARIF

Pakistan's Supreme Court on February 21 ruled that a person disqualified under Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution cannot serve as the head of a political party, in a blow to Nawaz Sharif who will no longer remain the chief of the ruling PML-N. “Ineligible person cannot hold the office of a party presidency,” the court said. The court also annulled all decisions made by Nawaz Sharif as the party head.

RAJ NAIR

The head of Ford’s North American division Raj Nair is out of a job over his acknowledged “inappropriate behavior,” the auto giant said on February 21. The former president, will continue to enjoy health and retirement benefits. He forfeits a $5-million retention bonus that was to be awarded in 2020. Ford also cancelled Nair's time-based restricted stock bonus, which was announced in 2017.

MANEKA GANDHI

A video shows an angered Union minister for women and child development Maneka Gandhi rebuking officials saying, “You are getting fat like a ‘ha **** zaada.’The man who was the target of her anger is a supply officer responsible for distributing grains to Below Poverty Line scheme beneficiaries. She said she would demand an inquiry against the officer and will make sure that he gets suspended.

ANSHU PRAKASH

Chief secretary Anshu Prakash was allegedly manhandled by two MLAs of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence on February 21.The officers retaliated on Tuesday by allegedly beating up city minister Imran Hussain and AAP leader Asish Khetan. On February 24 police descended on CM Arvind Kejriwal’s residence and seized a hard disk of the CCTV system in connection with the assault.

ROGER FEDERER

The 36-year-old Swiss became the oldest world number one when he reached the semifinals of the Rotterdam Open. He overcame an early setback to beat Robin Haase of the Netherlands 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 and will replace old rival Rafael Nadal at the top of the rankings. Federer surpasses Andre Agassi, who held the top spot aged 33 years and 131 days in 2003, as the oldest man to claim the world number one spot. It is Federer’s first time back at the summit.