Qatari Poet Sentenced for ‘Threatening to Overthrow the Regime’ Loses Final Appeal

Qatar’s Court of Cassation, the country’s highest judicial body, upheld a 15-year prison sentence earlier this week for poet Muhammad Rashid al-Ajami, who goes by the poetic name Muhammad Ibn al-Dheeb.

The Qatari citizen had been seeking a retrial after he was first convicted by a lower court last year of “inciting the overthrow of the regime” with his poetry and given a life sentence, which was then reduced by the Appeals Court in February to 15 years in jail.

Gunmen kill seven members of Iraqi family

TARMIYAH: Gunmen armed with silenced weapons attacked a house in a town north of Baghdad on Wednesday, killing seven members of a family, including three young children, security officials and a medic said.

Two members of the family, including one of the dead, belonged to the anti-Qaeda Sahwa militia force, made up of Sunni tribesmen who resisted the militant group and helped turn the tide of the war in Iraq.

Marc Grossman resigns as US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan

Washington: US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman has resigned from his post, a report said.

The resignation will be effective from December 14.

He will be replaced in an acting capacity by his current deputy, David D. Pearce

Abducted Dr. Saeed Ahmed recovered from Quetta

Quetta: An eye specialist Dr Saeed Khan who was under abduction for over a month has lastly been recovered from Quetta, family sources said on Wednesday.

Talking to media, Dr. Saeed expressed concern over the target killing and kidnapping of doctors in Balochistan saying that it must be ended. “I have no idea whether ransom money was paid or who paid it.”

Meanwhile, PMA Balochistan President said there is no role of government behind the recovery of Dr. Saeed Ahmed and he got released after paying ransom money.

At least 34 killed in Damascus car bombs: activists

At least 34 people have been killed in explosions which struck the eastern Damascus district of Jaramana, state television said.

At least 83 people were wounded in the blast.

Morsy would not back down

Egypt’s Cabinet chief, Mohamed Refa’a al-Tahtawi, said there will be no retreat from the constitutional decree, state-run EGYNews reported. He reportedly stressed the president would not back down because his move was motivated by democratic aims.

Ahmed al-Aguizi, a spokesman for the Freedom and Justice Party — the Brotherhood’s political arm — said the anti-Morsy protesters carried knives, swords, clubs and guns and battled Brotherhood supporters for four hours.

 

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IPL franchises begin search for Pakistan players

MUMBAI/LAHORE :Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises have reportedly begun search for signings from Pakistan ahead of the players auction of the tournament that is due in January.

Sources close to some of the national team players told media that inquiries had already started coming in from interested franchises in the IPL.

No chance of alliance with Musharraf in upcoming elections: Imran Khan

Lahore: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chief Imran Khan ruling out any chance of alliance with former President Pakistan Pervez Musharraf has said that no alliance will be made with Musharraf before or after the upcoming elections.

Expressing the post-election policies of his party in an interview show ‘Geo Shaan se’ aired on Wednesday, cricketer turned politician said that PTI is not the party of families like other in Pakistan.

He expressed gratitude over positive statements by Pervez Musharraf about him but denied any likelihood of having a coalition with APML in future.

Earlier, former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) gave a hint on the possibility of building an alliance with PTI after the elections.

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BCCI unaware of talks between Tendulkar, selectors

The Indian Cricket Board on Wednesday claimed it was unaware of any talks between senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar and national selectors on his future in the wake of a prolonged form slump.

“I am not aware of it,” said BCCI secretary and senior selection panel convener Sanjay Jagdale when contacted in Indore for his reaction to media reports that Tendulkar spoke to chief selector Sandeep Patil before yesterday’s selection meeting at the Board headquarters here.

Media reports claimed that Tendulkar was asked about his future plans, specifically about his retirement from the game which he has played for over two decades. The selectors were reportedly told by the record-setting batsman that it was their call to decide on his future.

Taliban threaten to kill kidnapped dam workers

ISLAMABAD : The Pakistani Taliban on Tuesday threatened to kill eight kidnapped employees of a dam project by December 3 if the government failed to meet the terror outfit’s demands.

The kidnapped people worked at the Gomal Zam Dam hydro-electric power and irrigation project in South Waziristan region. They are two engineers, four security personnel and two staffers. A 46-minute video, recorded on November 23 and released on Tuesday, showed the kidnapped men seeking the government’s help and relaying the militants’ message. It gave the government six days to react.

One of the kidnapped engineers, Shahid Ali Khan, is seen speaking in the video which has the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s name written in the background. It also shows gun-toting men whose faces cannot be seen.