Day: December 2, 2016

PHC stays execution of five army court convicts

PESHAWAR: A Peshawar High Court bench on Thursday stayed the execution of five militants convicted by a military court on different counts of terrorism and suspended their death sentences.

Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Khan issued notice to the defence ministry seeking records of the cases of those convicts, whose family members have separately challenged sentences.

Khalid Anwar Afridi was the lawyer for convict Fazal Ali, whereas Barrister Tajamul represented other convicts, including Torah Gul, Mohammad Wali, Payo Jan and Khial Jan.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), media wing of Pakistan Army, had on Nov 22 issued a press release wherein it was mentioned that the Chief of Army Staff had confirmed death sentences awarded to 10 hard core militants including the present five convicts.

Asks defence ministry to produce records of their cases
Lawyer Khalid Anwar said convict Fazal Ali was a resident of Swat and was handed over to Pakistan Army by a local Jirga in 2009.

He added that after that he had gone missing and later on he was traced at an internment centre at the Pak-Austrian Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management in Swat.

He stated that the family members had met him at the said centre in 2014. He added that on Nov 23 the family members came to know about his conviction by the military court through newspapers.

He added that the convict was innocent and he was not provided opportunity of fair trial including selecting a counsel of his choice.

About Fazal Ali, the ISPR had claimed that he and two other convicts were members of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and they were involved in attacking law-enforcement agencies and personnel of armed forces. It was claimed that the said attacks had resulted in death of Havildar Munir Ahmed and Sepoy Sajid Khan and injuries to several soldiers.

About the other four convicts, Barrister Tajamul said they were residents of Khyber Agency and were taken into custody early this year. He added that they were not given opportunity of presenting proper defence and were also not provided record of their cases.

About the said four convicts, the ISPR had claimed that they were members of Lashkar-i-Islam, a Bara-based banned outfit.

The ISPR claimed that Tirah Gul and Mohammad Wali had attacked LEAs and armed forces resulting into the killing of Havildar Noor Mast, two naiks Farman Ali and Shabbir Akhtar, and sepoys Humayun, Fakhar Alam and Ismail and injuries to many other soldiers.

Similarly, about Khial Jan the ISPR had stated that he was involved in attacks which had killed a civilian Abdullah and a member of Khasadar force, Sameed Khan, and had injured several others.

Moreover, the ISPR had claimed that the convict Payo Jan was involved in attacks on LEAs which had resulted in the death of sepoy Qasim Raza.

The high court has normally been conducting in-camera proceedings of final arguments in cases of military courts convicts.

Several of the military court convicts approached the high court but failed to get relief against their convictions.

Appeals of several of them were also turned down by the Supreme Court. Currently, their review petitions are pending with the apex court.

Published in Dawn

Pakistani-origin Muslim teen in Canada brutally assaulted in suspected hate crime

A Pakistani-origin Muslim teenager in Canada was brutally beaten by two men with a baseball bat, leaving him with a cracked skull as his family fear the assault may be a hate crime, CBC reported.

Noah Rabbani, 15, was walking home from a friend’s house last weekend late at night in Hamilton, Ontario, when two men got out of a car next to where he was walking. One of the men was holding a baseball bat, a police press release quoted by CBC said.

“The males approached the boy and struck him with the bat several times causing serious injuries… The suspects ran back to the car and left in an unknown direction,” the police said.

Hamilton Police Constable Asif Khokhar said an investigation is ongoing and that detectives are “looking at all aspects.”

The Saltfleet District High School student was shifted to an intensive care unit and had to undergo surgery to repair a crack in his skull which has left him with impaired movement on the right side of his body.

The teenager was able to reach his grandmother’s house a few doors away and provide a brief description of the attackers.

Rabbani’s aunt Huma Aslam said the assault came as ‘a total shock’.

“Here we are in Canada, the greatest country in the world. I’m just really in shock,” Aslam said.

Rabbani’s family describes him as a quiet, kind boy and an exceptional student who has won several academic awards.

Considering Rabbani’s Pakistani Muslim background, Aslam said the family is worried the assault may be a hate crime, with Rabbani targeted for the colour of his skin. She added that the teen had nothing of real value in his backpack to steal.

“It just seems like all of a sudden after the election in the US there have been more violent incidents in our country,” she said. “It’s the timing of it all.”

“We can’t let these crimes go unnoticed,” she added. “It cannot become the new norm.”

4 Nigerian singers who have spent time in police custody

One of the commonest things about Nigerian entertainers is the fact that they do not go to jail compared to their foreign counterparts.

But this does not mean they do notat one point or the other have issues with law enforcement agencies. Quite a number of them have actually had  to stay in the police custody for either behaving nasty, going against the law or maybe the police just wanna have them over for the night LOL.

We take a look at some of our favorite musicians that have landed in police custody and reasons why they.

1. Oritsefemi

This did not only earned Oritsefemi a night at the police custody, he also got beaten up by other bouncers in the club.

He is like the latest of them all in this category. He was recently ‘served dinner’ by the police after he stabbed a bouncer at Quilox, a popular club in Lagos. The singer was pissed when another musician, Rock Steady, was prevented from getting to a particular section of the club. Oritsefemi was already seated and having fun, when he sighted the scene and got up to intervene. He however slapped the bouncer and stabbed him. Well, this did not only earned him a night at the police custody, he also got beaten up by other bouncers in the club. The singer has since apologized for his behavior and has been set free.

2. Skales

Skales alongside his manager, Osagie, were was put into the hands of the police by his music label Baseline Music

Skales alongside his manager, Osagie, were was put into the hands of the police by his music label Baseline Music. According to the record label, they were arrested for financial crime and mismanagement of the music company. The duo were said to be making monies but not documenting them. The rapper was eventually freed but his manager spent longer time with the NPF.

3. Vector

Rapper Vector has also ‘dined’ with the Nigerian Police before. He was handed over to the Nigeria police by his former label YSG for breaching contractual terms. Vector surrendered the car and apartment provided for him by the label during the dispute. He revealed he was arrested twice over the matter. The second time he was in custody from 3pm to 10pm.

4. Wizkid

Wizkid was arrested in Kenya

In 2014,  top Nigerian singer Wizkid was arrested in Kenya at his hotel – Nairobi Crown Plaza hotel after things took a different turn when he was confronted by the hotel’s staff. He was quizzed for smoking illegal substance in their country.

Wizkid allegedly got into a heated argument with a hotel front officer after he was told not to smoke the banned substance in their hotel. The singer was later handed to the police and was released with singer Victoria Kimani as surety.

Remember any singer we did not add to the list? Drop their names in the comment section!

By Naij.com

Peom

9 Months Old – Poem by EZEKIEL MAU

Sow the seed
and let the zygote grow,
Stump the trees
and the seed will through
the desert flow.
Feed it nutrients
So the foetus in time be
made whole.
But this know.
A recompense you’ll get.
Once it’s nine months old

El Cl;asico: A combined XI of Real Madrid and BArcelona stars

Ahead of the El Clasico to be played this weekend, we pick a combined a combined starting XI of Real Madrid and Barcelona stars based on form.

Both teams have players who have been on form in recent weeks while others are suffering a crisis of confidence.

Real Madrid have won their last five games in all competitions coming into this game meanwhile Barcelona have sloked slow and ponderous in recent weeks.

The Catalans have won just twice in their last five games in competitions drawing the other three.

The team will line up in a 4-4-1-1 formation with players selected based on form, availability for the clash and not reputation…hence injured players will be excluded.

Goalkeeper: Keylor Navas

Fights off competition from Ter Stegen who has been unconvincing in the last five games for Barcelona.

Keylor Navas

Defenders: Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Marcelo

Barcelona might not be enjoying god run of form but Gerard Pique has been impressive and they look weak without his presence. Carvajal, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo offer better service than any other defenders Barcelona can provide.

Sergio Ramos celebrates Real Madrid victory over Manchester City in the Champions League last season

Midfielders: Lucas Vazquez, Casemiro, Luka Modric, Neymar

Gareth Bale misses out due to injury with Lucas Vazquez coming in die to his impressive form of late, Casemiro has been injured of late but returned in the Copa Del Rey clashon Wednesday. Luka Modric is a logical choice with Neymar playing from the left.

Brazilian international Neymar

Casemiro and Modric provide more service than Iniesta (who could play but is short of match fitness). Sergio Busquest has been impressive in recent weeks and looks to be out of his depth.

Luka Modric takes on Fernando and Fernandinho of Man City in the Champions League

Attackers: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo

It is just logical that Lionel Messi and Ronaldo make up the front two with Messi playing just behind the Portuguese as a second striker cum attacking midfielder.

Ronaldo and Messi

The El Clasico kicks off 4.15 pm on Saturday, December 3.

Netflix allows subscribers to binge-watch shows offline

Video streaming pioneer Netflix Inc has added an option that allows subscribers to download shows at no additional cost on their mobile device to watch without an internet connection.

Netflix signalled in recent months it would add an offline viewing option to better compete as the streaming video market becomes more and more crowded. Amazon.com Inc’s rival streaming video service, Prime Video, has had this option for about a year.

While the new option announced on Wednesday is available for all of Netflix’s subscribers, it could have greater appeal in international markets such as Africa and Asia, where internet service is less ubiquitous than it is in the United States.

The international market is becoming the main driver of growth for Netflix. Of their 86.7 million subscribers, 47.5m of them come from the United States.

Growth among U.S. subscribers has slowed in 2016. Netflix added just 370,000 subscribers during the third quarter and only 4.3m since the third quarter of last year, suggesting they are reaching a saturation point.

In that same time frame, Netflix has added 13.2m international subscribers, including 3.2m in the third quarter. Much of that has to do with Netflix’s expansion by more than 130 countries earlier this year to over 190 nations currently. China is a notable holdout.

Not everything in Netflix’s vast library is available to download just yet, including the recently released “Gilmore Girls” revival. Currently available shows include Netflix-owned “Stranger Things,” “The Crown” and “Narcos” along with licensed shows and movies like “Parks and Recreation” and “Spotlight.”

“While many members enjoy watching Netflix at home, we’ve often heard they also want to continue their ‘Stranger Things’ binge while on air planes and other places where Internet is expensive or limited,” Eddy Wu, director of product innovation, wrote in a blog post.

The new feature is included in all plans and available for phones and tablets on Alphabet Inc’s Android and Apple Inc’s iOS platforms, the company said.

Netflix shares rose as much as 2.4 per cent before it eased, up 0.1pc to $117.62 on Wednesday on the Nasdaq.

The new option received widespread praise on social media Wednesday.

“You can now download stuff off Netflix to watch without internet,” wrote Twitter user kt (@KatieOttaway), “what did we do to deserve this miracle.”

NetflixOffline was also the top-trending hashtag on Twitter, worldwide.