Sunday 7 December 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

PTI all set to show muscle in Faisalabad today

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FAISALABAD (Dunya News) - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is all geared up for shutter down call in Faisalabad today (Monday) under “Plan C”. All arrangements to make the shutdown call a success have been finalised.According to sources, arrangements to hold a protest rally at Chowk Ghanta Ghar have been in full swing. Sources further informed that five main entry points to the city and five main crossings of the city would be blocked a 10:00am.The PTI chief Imran Khan will reach Faisalabad airport at 2:00pm from where he will lead a large procession to the Chowk Ghanta Ghar.Meanwhile, Chairman of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Sahibzada Hamid Raza has said that Sunni Ittehad Council will join Imran Khan’s protest in Faisalabad.He said this while meeting PTI’s Punjab President Ijaz Chaudhry and other PTI party members. “Peaceful protest is democratic right of Pakistan Tahrik-e-Insaf (PTI) and the government should not stop it,” Sahibzada Hamid Raza said.On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has also decided to join PTI’s protest in Faisalabad. PML-Q leaders Ch Shujaat Hussain and Ch prevez Ilahi have asked workers to participate in PTI protest.

Tight security in Held Kashmir for India prime minister

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SRINAGAR (AP) - Thousands of government forces have fanned out across the Indian portion of Kashmir to provide a security shield for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to make a campaign speech in the region for local elections, police said Sunday.Authorities are taking extra precautions following daring daylong insurgent attacks Friday on an army camp and other targets left 21 people dead, including six attackers, said K. Rajendra, the top police officer in Jammu-Kashmir state.Sharpshooters have been posted on rooftops in the regions main city, Srinagar, where Modi is scheduled to speak Monday at an election rally in a sports stadium. Security forces also have put steel barricades on the roads and are checking vehicles and frisking commuters and pedestrians.Prime ministers are generally high-value targets, so we are not taking a chance, Rajendra said.Rebel groups in Kashmir have been fighting against Indian rule since 1989. More than 68,000 people have been killed in the uprising and an Indian military crackdown that has largely suppressed rebel activity.On Sunday, Lt. Gen. Subrata Saha, a top Indian army commander, accused the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group of carrying out Fridays attacks. India also blames Lashkar-e-Taiba for a 2008 attack on the Indian city of Mumbai that killed 166 people.Lashkar-e-Taiba, however, has not issued any statement.There is no doubt that they (the attackers) were highly trained terrorists. Attacks like these are not possible without a design, pattern, synchronization and coordination, Saha told reporters in Srinagar.There has been a flurry of attacks recently in the Indian portion of Kashmir, which is holding elections staggered over five days to elect a regional legislature. Modi has visited the region twice in the last month.The violence has not deterred voters, with officials saying turnout for the first two phases of the election was about 70 percent.India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since 1947 over rival claims to Kashmir. India accuses Pakistan of supporting the militants with arms and trainings, while Islamabad staunchly denies this, saying it offers only morale and diplomatic support for their cause.

Group: 34 killed by rebels in latest Congo attack

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KINSHASA (AP) - Rebels in eastern Congo killed at least 34 civilians in overnight attacks, the latest in a series of deadly raids, a coalition of civil society groups said Sunday.Members of the Allied Defense Forces rebels attacked three villages around the town of Beni, more than 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of Goma, the provincial capital, according to the coalition from North Kivu province.On his Twitter account, Martin Kobler, head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo, condemned the attack and called for Congolese forces and the U.N. peacekeepers to respond. He said troops from both forces were in the area Sunday.More than 250 people have been killed in attacks around Beni in the past two months, according to the civil society group.Eastern Congo is home to a myriad of armed groups and militias, many vying for control of the regions vast mineral resources. The U.N. peacekeeping force is authorized to battle the rebels groups but has been criticized for doing too little to protect civilians.

Tennis: Dancing Federer hails new IPTL as crazy but fun

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NEW DELHI (AFP) - World number two Roger Federer hailed the new International Premier Tennis League as crazy but fun after sauntering through his debut matches in the Indian capital on Sunday.A laughing and joking Federer downed Czech world number seven Tomas Berdych in the new team competitions third leg in New Delhi, where the Swiss veteran was playing for the first time.The normally composed and focused Federer was clearly enjoying himself during his three matches in front of Indian fans including Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan and cricketing great Sunil Gavaskar.After winning his doubles and mixed doubles matches with Indian teammates Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna, Federer celebrated with a courtside dance, before teammate Frances Gael Monfils joined in. Its crazy but its good fun. I definitely think theres a place for this, Federer said, adding, Its competitive, its serious but its still light-hearted.Federers Indian Aces defeated the Singapore Slammers 26 points to 16 in the competition which has a quickfire format, including one-set matches hurried along by a 20-second serve clock.Federer, who has never played in India before, said the experience was big, it was loud, it was different.Federer said he was unsure how much extra tennis he would play next year, and would make a decision on his schedule after the Australian Open in January. I gotta be careful not to overplay, clearly. I gotta still decide on Davis Cup, what Im going to do there, the 33-year-old said courtside.But Ill have a look after the Australian Open. Thats when I will decide how much Im going to play next season, said Federer, who holds a record 17 Gram Slam titles.Im going to play a full schedule like normal but the question is how much more will I add or not.Federer is expected to take on Novak Djokovic on Monday night in Delhi for his Indian Aces team before the competition moves on to the final leg in Dubai.

Football: Messi follows Ronaldo with another hat-trick

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MADRID (AFP) - A third Lionel Messi hat-trick in four games helped Barcelona keep the pressure on La Liga leaders Real Madrid as they recorded a 5-1 victory over local rivals Espanyol on Sunday.After falling behind to Sergio Garcias early strike, Barcelona then took control of the Catalan derby.Messis 21st Liga treble, which took him to within two of Cristiano Ronaldos record of 23 set on Saturday, a Gerard Pique header and neat finish from Pedro, was enough to see Barca take the spoils and leapfrog Atletico Madrid in second place with 34 points.Real still lead the table with 36 points after a 3-0 win over Celta Vigo on Saturday.Despite having not won at the Camp Nou since 2009 it was the visitors who started the brighter, creating the games first chance after eight minutes, however Jordi Alba was able to clear Garcias cross with Lucas Vazquez poised to tap in from close range.Barcelona did not heed the early warning, and they soon found themselves behind. Felipe Caicedo challenged Sergio Busquets just inside the Barcelona half, and as the Camp Nou waited for a whistle that never came from referee Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva, Sergio Garcia ran directly at a static Pique before firing past Claudio Bravo to stun the hosts. It was Espanyols first goal at the home of their illustrious neighbours since Ivan De La Penas double saw them record a 2-1 win there five years ago.Barcelona then reacted, with Xavi Hernandez, Neymar and Ivan Rakitic all seeing chances come and go as they began to dominate play.After being brought down on the edge of the box, Messi saw the resulting free-kick bounce off the crossbar with goalkeeper Kiko Casilla beaten, and it only seemed a matter of time before the home side equalised.Casilla then denied Pique and Alba as Barcelona pushed on, however they were almost made to pay five minutes before the break. Espanyol broke at pace, however Victor Sanchezs heavy touch when latching onto Vazquezs through ball allowed Bravo to close down the space and keep his side in the game.It was to prove a pivotal save as, on the stroke of half time, Messi equalised with the kind of goal that Barcelona have made their trademark. Jordi Alba cut inside from the left, feeding Xavi Hernandez, who in turn laid the ball off to the Argentine who swept home from just outside the box.With the momentum firmly behind them, Barcelona came out firing in the second period, and thought they had a penalty within 60 seconds of the restart when Eric Bailly brought down Neymar, however Iglesias Villanueva was unmoved.The Brazilian, who was a menace throughout, then combined with Luis Suarez to find Messi on the edge of the box five minutes after the break, and the 27-year-old rifled a right-footed effort past a hapless Casilla to knock the wind out of their opponents sails.Two minutes later the advantage was doubled as a Rakitic corner was met by Pique, and from there on there was only one winner.With 13 minutes remaining an Alba diagonal ball found substitute Pedro Rodriguez, who had earlier replaced Suarez, and the Spain international made no mistake to further stretch Barcas lead.Nine minutes from time Messi capped off a fine afternoon as he scored his third, and his sides fifth, following a give and go with Pedro.

Belgium hold Aussies in Champions Trophy thriller

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BHUBANESWAR (AFP) - Tom Boon slammed in a last-gasp penalty corner to help Belgium force a dramatic 4-4 draw with world number one Australia in the Champions Trophy field hockey tournament in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.Ruthless England destroyed Pakistan 8-2 in the days other pool A match of the eight-nation tournament at the Kalinga stadium, building on their opening 3-1 win over World Cup holders Australia.In pool B, the Netherlands outclassed Olympic champions Germany 4-1 and Argentina came back twice from being a goal down to shock hosts India 4-2.Australia, who have won the last five Champions Trophy titles, appeared set for an easy victory over Belgium when they ran up a 3-0 lead by the 21st minute.But the fast-improving Belgians, ranked fourth in the world, fought back and were only a goal behind when the last quarter began.Belgium forced a series of penalty corners and were rewarded with just three seconds remaining in the match when Boon recovered a miscued drag-flick after a penalty corner and smashed in the equaliser.Belgian captain John-John Dohmen was delighted with the draw which took his team to four points from two matches, following the 2-1 win over Pakistan on Saturday.It was an intense and high voltage game and we fought back to ensure they did not win, he said. It is always very satisfying to see such a performance against the champions.The new-look Kookaburras, rebuilding after the retirement of veterans Liam de Young and Rob Hammond earlier this year and missing the injured duo of Jamie Dwyer and Mark Knowles, were left with just one point.England veteran Ashley Jackson said his teams biggest ever win over Pakistan in the Champions Trophy gave him hope for the rest of the tournament.Hopefully, we can be part of something very special if we keep improving like this, Jackson said. We want to go from here with some good medals.Pakistan coach Shahnaz Sheikh said the better fitness and speed of European teams were the main reasons for his teams back-to-back defeats.We Asians just cant match the power of the Europeans, the former international said. This tournament will be a good learning experience for my boys.Pakistan, who did not qualify for the World Cup, also failed to earn a direct entry to the 2016 Olympics after losing to India in the Asian Games final in October.Argentina, who were 2-1 down in the third quarter against India, scored threw times through Juan Lopez, Agustin Mazzilli and Joseph Menini to hand the hosts their second defeat in a row.It was a first win for the Pan-American champions, who had lost to the Netherlands on the opening day. India were beaten by Germany in their first match.The last round in the preliminary stage will be played on Tuesday after a days rest.The group stage determines the line-up for the knock-out rounds that will be contested by all eight sides from December 11. The final will be played on December 14.

Ski jumping: Koudelka defies high winds for Lillehammer win

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LILLEHAMMER (AFP) - Roman Koudelka of the Czech Republic clinched his second World Cup win of the season when he triumphed at Lillehammer where the competition was cut short due to high winds.Koudelkas win also allowed him to take over as the overall leader in the World Cup after five rounds.His 153.9 points on Sunday from a jump of 140m was enough to see off Slovenias Peter Prevc (149.9 pts) and Austrias Michael Hayboeck (149.4).Four-time Olympic champion Simon Ammann of Switzerland was fifth with 147 points while Saturdays winner Gregor Schlierenzauer was a disappointing 13th.

Pakistan, New Zealand meet in first ODI today

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DUBAI (Agencies) – Pakistan and New Zealand start a five-match one-day series in Dubai today (Monday) with the focus on building confidence and momentum for next year’s World Cup, which is just two months away. The match will start at 4:00pm (PST).After draws in both Test and T20I series, Pakistan and New Zealand head into a five-ODI series at Dubai on Monday. Bad news greets Pakistan ahead of the day-nighter as Mohammad Hafeez has been suspended from bowling in international cricket after the International Cricket Council confirmed his bowling action to be illegal on Sunday.The 34-year-old Hafeez, more known for his batting exploits but pretty effective with the ball, was reported during the first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi last week. In comparison, the New Zealand camp is in a good mood after reports that star all-rounder Corey Anderson, who didnt play the second and last T20 on account of a head blow inflicted by a bouncer from Mohammad Irfan in the previous game, is set to return.With Hafeez banned from bowling, Pakistan are one option short in that department, and that disrupts the balance of the team. Pakistan are forced to bring in left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar in place of a batsman and thats likely to be Asad Shafiq. However, there is good news for Pakistan regarding one of its top batsmen Ahmed Shehzad who has recovered from a minor skull fracture caused by an Anderson bouncer in the first Test at Abu Dhabi.Squads:Pakistan (probable): 1 Ahmed Shehzad, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk) , 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Umar Akmal, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Umar Gul, 9 Wahab Riaz, 10 Zulfiqar Babar, 11 Mohammad Irfan.New Zealand (probable): 1 Anton Devcich, 2 Kane Williamson (capt), 3 Dean Brownlie, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Tom Latham, 6 Luke Ronchi (wk), 7 James Neesham, 8 Daniel Vettori, 9 Adam Milne/Nathan McCullum, 10 and 11 Matt Henry/Kyle Mills/Mitchell McClenaghan.

England fined again for slow over rate

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COLOMBO (AFP) - Englands misery at losing the fourth one-day international to Sri Lanka on Sunday was compounded when they were fined for a slow over-rate for the second successive match.Match referee David Boon imposed the fine after Eoin Morgans side was ruled to be one over short of their target.Morgan was fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while his players received 10 per cent fines. Ironically, Morgan was standing in for regular captain Alastair Cook who was suspended for Sundays match after falling foul of the same rules.Cook was banned and fined 20 percent of his match fee for his teams slow over-rate in the third one-day international on Wednesday.That was the second time in the last 12 months that Cook had been found guilty of the minor over-rate offence, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said.

26 foreigners among 135 arrested for 'terrorism' in Saudi

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RIYADH (AFP) - Saudi Arabia said Sunday it has arrested 135 suspects for terrorism offences, after the kingdoms participation in air strikes against Islamic State group extremists raised concerns about possible retaliation.The suspects include 26 foreign nationals, mostly from Syria, interior ministry spokesman General Mansour al-Turki said, cited by the official Saudi Press Agency.The arrests followed repeated attempts to harm the security and stability of the homeland, Turki said without specifying when they were detained.Forty of the suspects had gone to zones of conflict, joined extremist groups and trained in the handling of weapons... before returning to the kingdom to destabilise the country, Turki said.Numerous others were implicated in the financing, recruitment, propaganda and manufacture of explosives... in aid of extremist groups.Seventeen suspects were linked to unrest and armed attacks on security forces in Awamiya, a Shiite-dominated community in Eastern Province just west of Dammam city.Awamiya has been a focus for clashes between security forces and minority Shiite protesters.Turki said that, as well as 16 Syrians, the detained foreign suspects included three from Yemen, an Egyptian, a Lebanese, an Afghan, an Ethiopian, a Bahraini, an Iraqi and a stateless person.The arrests come as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Bahrain take part in US-led air strikes against the IS extremist group in Syria.As the epicentre of Islam, Saudi Arabia is the primary target of IS and its efforts to restore an Islamic caliphate, two Saudi analysts, Nawaf Obaid and Saud al-Sarhan, wrote in a September commentary published by The New York Times.- Westerners attacked -Last week an IS-linked media group released a video claiming to show the shooting in Riyadh of a Danish national by its supporters, the US-based SITE Intelligence Group said.Denmark has confirmed that one of its citizens was shot and wounded in the Saudi capital on November 22.The video carries an audio recording, allegedly of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, saying that Saudi rulers will see no more security or rest.A week after the Dane was shot, someone stabbed and wounded a Canadian while he shopped at a mall in Dhahran on Saudi Arabias Gulf coast.Police arrested a Saudi suspect.In October, a Saudi-American former employee of a US defence contractor shot dead an American colleague and wounded another in Riyadh.The suspect had recently been fired, officials said.That was the first deadly strike against Westerners in Saudi Arabia since several were killed in a wave of Al-Qaeda violence between 2003 and 2007.Both Canada and Denmark are among the Western states taking part in an aerial bombing campaign against IS in Iraq.A Saudi government adviser, who declined to be named, told AFP the latest arrests demonstrate the interior ministry is in control of the threat posed by IS inside the kingdom.In November, Saudi Arabia blamed IS-linked suspects for the killing of seven Shiites, including children, in Eastern Province.Security forces in the Sunni-dominated kingdom arrested 73 Saudis and four foreigners in connection with that attack, the interior ministry announced earlier.Saudi certainly has a problem with ISIS (IS), and it seems there is now a trend to carry out attacks in the Gulf, including in Saudi, said Toby Matthiesen, a research fellow at the University of Cambridge.The interior ministry called on citizens to remain vigilant.

Uber cab driver in India arrested after suspected rape

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NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian police on Sunday arrested an Uber cab driver suspected of raping a female passenger and said they would take legal action against the U.S. online taxi service for failing to run background checks on him.The suspect was held in his home town in Uttar Pradesh where his car was earlier found abandoned. He will be brought before a New Delhi court on Monday, said Madhur Verma, deputy commissioner with the Delhi police.Police opened a rape investigation after the 26-year-old woman reported that she had been sexually assaulted and beaten after hailing a ride home with the Uber driver from a social event late Friday in south Delhi.Verma said the police would take legal action against Uber for violations including a failure to check whether the driver, named as Shiv Kumar Yadav, had a clean police record and the lack of a satellite location device in his car.Every violation by Uber will be evaluated and we will go for legal recourse, said Verma, saying police would take legal advice before opting to press a criminal or civil case.Uber has faced critical news coverage over its driver screening in the United States, and has apologized for comments by an executive who suggested digging up dirt on journalists investigating the firm.That has not stopped the San Francisco-based firm from raising investment that values it at $40 billion, reflecting the perceived potential of its expansion into high-growth markets like India.The 32-year-old driver dropped the woman home after attacking her and warned her not to inform the authorities. She managed to note down the drivers number and take a photograph of his car, police said.Delhi recorded the highest number of rapes in India in 2013, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau data, earning the dubious distinction of being Indias rape capital.Police attribute the rise in reports to more women coming forward due to greater public awareness following the high profile gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman on a bus in December 2012.Uber said in a statement on Sunday that it had suspended the driver following the allegations, in line with company policy, and have provided the authorities with all relevant details, such as driver, vehicle and trip information.Safety is Ubers highest priority and in India, we work with licensed driver-partners to provide a safe transportation option, Uber spokeswoman Evelyn Tay said on the companys blog.

Football: Chiefs sink Pirates to keep large lead

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JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - South African Premiership pacesetters Kaizer Chiefs defeated greatest rivals Orlando Pirates 2-0 to maintain a 13-point lead Sunday ahead of four consecutive home fixtures.Siphiwe Tshabalala and Siphelele Mthembu scored second-half goals for Chiefs in the Soweto derby at a near-full 90,000-seat Soccer City stadium in Soweto to sink the Buccaneers.Chiefs, champions and runners-up in the past two seasons, have won 11 matches and drawn three for 36 points after 13 rounds of the most-widely broadcast African football league.A tight defence has been pivotal to the success of the Amakhosi (Chiefs) with stand-in goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo living up to his first name by conceding just five goals in 1260 minutes.With first-choice shot-stopper and captain Itumeleng Khune sidelined for months by injury, Khuzwayo has made the most of his promotion.Consistent top-class performances for the most successful and popular club in South Africa have earned him a national squad place as back-up to Belgium-based Darren Keet.Khuzwayo was seldom troubled by former African champions Pirates in a match that improved after a first half almost devoid of excitement.Tshabalala, scorer of the opening goal at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, side-footed a cross past goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo on 51 minutes to end the stalemate.And Mthembu struck three minutes into stoppage time, finishing a superb cross from fellow substitute George Lebese with a low shot into the corner.Defeat left 2013 CAF Champions League runners-up Pirates ninth, 18 points behind Chiefs, and almost certainly out of the title race even with 17 rounds to go.England-born Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter saw his side surrender a large lead to finish second behind Mamelodi Sundowns last season and is understandably cautious.We have won nothing yet, he told reporters. There is a long way to go before we can consider celebrating.Winning the derby was great, but there are four tough fixtures ahead before the mid-season break and we must prepare thoroughly for them.Chiefs host top-half Chippa United and Mpumalanga Black Aces and bottom-half Platinum Stars and Free State Stars during the next two weeks.Sundowns were comfortable 2-0 home winners over Free State in Pretoria and rose to second, ahead of Wits University and Ajax Cape Town on goal difference.Zimbabweans scored both goals with Cuthbert Malajila nodding the title-holders into a 13th-minute lead and Khama Billiat scoring via a close-range shot midway through the second half.Wits snatched a 1-0 win at Bloemfontein Celtic courtesy of a Ben Motshwari goal six minutes from time while Ajax were held 0-0 at home by SuperSport United.It was not a great weekend for Premiership spectators and viewers with eight matches producing just 14 goals -- an average of 1.75 per game.

French Nobel economics laureate chides Paris on reforms

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STOCKHOLM (AFP) - Jean Tirole, the French economist who won this years Nobel Economics Prize, on Sunday urged France to carry out reforms that would put people back to work.We should follow the example of countries like Germany and Sweden, which had difficult times and carried out a lot of reforms, Tirole told a news conference in Stockholm.We should carry out reforms to put people back to work... and also reform the state as many countries have done.Tirole, who won the Nobel for his research on reining in corporate giants, added: If you dont have a viable economy, your debt grows, and so on, then at some point you have to end the providential state which in my opinion would be disastrous.But he tempered his remarks by saying he believed in his country.I would not be in France if I didnt believe in France.The number of unemployed in France rose to a record 3.46 million in October, according to latest official statistics.In 2003, Tirole proposed a series of far-reaching reforms to Frances job market, notably suggesting the elimination of short work contracts.Swedish King Carl Gustav XVI will bestow this years crop of Nobels -- all except the Peace Prize -- during a ceremony in Stockholm on Wednesday.Childrens rights activists Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan and Indias Kailash Satyarthi, who jointly won this years Peace Prize, will receive their awards at a ceremony in Oslo on Wednesday.

MQM celebrates Sindh culture day in Karachi

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – A day celebrating Sindhi civilization was observed in Karachi by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Sunday, Dunya News reported.According to the details, the cultural event took place at Lal Qila ground in Karachi. MQM workers including women enthusiastically participated in the celebrations.The participants were wearing Sindhi cultural Ajrak shawl and caps and danced on the tunes of Sindhi songs.Talking on the occasion, MQM Raabta Committee’s Deputy Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that Sindh can become an exemplary province for the whole world if its resources are duly distributed among its residents.He said if MQM is given Sindh’s government then such a system of justice will be established in which the parameter of justice will remain the same and only faces will change.MQM leaders said that Sindhi culture day is a day not just to celebrate Sindhi culture but it is also, he said, an occasion to renew determination to protect Sindhi land.

Six Guantanamo detainees sent to Uruguay

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Six Guantanamo detainees have been transferred to Uruguay from the American military base in Cuba, where 136 detainees remain, the Pentagon said Sunday.Among the inmates transferred was Syrian prisoner Jihad Diyab, 43, who had staged a hunger strike and requested a US court to order prison officials to stop force-feeding him.The six men -- including three other Syrians, a Palestinian and a Tunisian -- received an approved for transfer from US authorities and left the military base on a US Air Force plane at 12:00 am (0500 GMT) Sunday, Pentagon spokesman Myles Caggins told AFP.There are still 136 prisoners at Guantanamo, most of whom are detained without charge or facing trial. Sixty-seven of them have been approved for release by the successive governments of George W. Bush and Barack Obama.Sundays transfers follow the release of seven prisoners in November.We are very grateful to Uruguay for this important humanitarian action, and to President (Jose) Mujica for his strong leadership in providing a home for individuals who cannot return to their own countries, special envoy for Guantanamo closure Cliff Sloan told AFP.The support we are receiving from our friends and allies is critical to achieving our shared goal of closing Guantanamo, and this transfer is a major milestone in our efforts to close the facility.The men arrived in Uruguay on Sunday morning and were taken to a military hospital for exams, reported weekly newspaper Busqueda, which first broke the story of the negotiations for their transfer.Uruguays leftist President Jose Mujica announced in March that the South American country would take in the inmates on humanitarian grounds in an effort to help US President Barack Obama fulfill his long-delayed promise to close the military prison in Cuba.The transfers, initially to take place last August, were delayed for political reasons.By the time Washington was ready, Uruguay was in the midst of an election campaign to choose Mujicas successor, making the issue a political hot potato.But after his Broad Front (FA) party secured another five years in power with the election of his ally Tabare Vazquez in a runoff election last Sunday, Mujica pressed ahead with the deal.- 779 prisoners, 13 years -A total of 779 prisoners have been held at Guantanamo in the nearly 13 years since the military detention center was set up in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks.The Pentagon named the six released Sunday as Syrians Ahmed Ahjam, Ali Hussein Shaabaan, Omar Abou Faraj and Jihad Diyab; Palestinian Mohammed Tahanmatan; and Tunisian Abdoul Ourgy.They are all aged between 30 and 40 years old and were among the first detainees to arrive in Guantanamo in 2002, said the Pentagon.Diyab is one of several prisoners who have staged hunger strikes at Guantanamo arguing that they are being held in legal limbo.Last year, Guantanamo prisoners staged the largest protest in the prisons history -- involving two-thirds of all detainees at its peak and spanning six months.At least 46 have been fed intravenously by prison officials who justify the practice on medical grounds and filmed the feedings.A federal judge has ordered the redacted release of the videotapes, but granted a request by President Barack Obamas administration for a pause on releasing them. The government is expected to appeal the release order.The closure of the prison, set up to hold detainees from President George W. Bushs post-9/11 War on Terror, was a prominent part of Obamas election campaign in 2008.Yet attempts to realize his ambition have been thwarted by domestic and international obstacles, leaving the fate of the jail and its prisoners in limbo.In Uruguay, the six transferred prisoners will live as free men and have the same liberties as any resident, including the right to travel, Mujica has said.The Pentagons envoy for the closure of Guantanamo, Paul Lewis, said he always visits countries where detainees may be sent before a final decision on a transfer is taken.Security is always top-of-mind prior to any decision to transfer a detainee, and each detainee is closely reviewed by six departments before he is eligible for transfer, he said.Mujica, a former guerrilla known for legalizing marijuana, giving most of his salary to charity and living in a run-down farmhouse, has said he sympathizes with the transferred inmates because of the 13 years he spent as a political prisoner.
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