Two Sisters Shot Dead In Pakistan ‘Honour’ Killings

Nasir Hussain killed his two sisters, Kosar and Gulzar Bibi, aged 22 and 28, on the eve of their weddings in Pakistan’s central Punjab province, police said Saturday, in the latest case of so-called “honour” killings in the country.

The sisters were shot dead by their 35-year-old brother on Friday as they prepared to marry men they had chosen themselves, senior police officer Mehar Riaz told AFP.

“The brother shot dead both the sisters yesterday and fled the site,” the officer said, adding that a search was underway.

“It is a simple case of killing for honour,” he said.

Atta Mohammad, the patriarch of the family, told reporters that Hussain had “destroyed everything”.

“He ruined my family, he destroyed us, he destroyed everything” Mohammad said.

Hundreds of women are murdered by relatives in the conservative Muslim nation each year on the pretext of defending what is seen as family honour.

Pakistan’s law minister this month announced that bills aimed at tackling “honour killings” and boosting rape convictions would soon be voted on by parliament, after mounting pressure to tackle a pattern of crime that claims around 1,000 lives a year.

The perpetrators of so-called honour killings — in which the victim, normally a woman, is killed by a relative — often walk free because they can seek forgiveness for the crime from another family member.

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Analysis: Clinton's Speech Carries Weight Of History

In becoming the first woman to lead a major U.S. political party, Hillary Clinton’s task Thursday night was not just to claim the Democratic nomination but to serve as a vessel for American women during a monumental moment in their history.

She and a parade of speakers before her did it by keeping the emphasis on its significance for future generations. "I'm so happy this day has come," she said. "When any barrier falls in America, for anyone, it clears the way for everyone," said Clinton.

Her address came on the heels of a rousing speech by President Obama Wednesday night, and the challenges were clear. They boiled down to how effectively she could make a closing argument to American voters after four days devoted to combating questions about her trustworthiness.

In addition to stressing the need for "steady leadership," Clinton shared more about her personal history. “Some people just don’t know what to make of me,” she said, before explaining how she grew up, describing her grandfather who worked in a Scranton lace mill and her mother, Dorothy, who was abandoned by her parents and ended up working as a house maid at age 14.

She also stressed the importance of her Methodist faith, as well as her early work going door-to-door on behalf of children with disabilities in Massachusetts.

"No one gets through life alone. We have to look out for each other and lift each other up," she said.

From India’s Indira Gandhi to Germany’s Angela Merkel, many other nations have elevated women to their highest office. Yet the United States has been slow to do the same, with Clinton’s nomination coming 100 years after Jeannette Rankin became the first woman elected to Congress.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, who is among those who blazed the trail for Clinton as the first female House speaker, called the moment "transformational” because of the nation's status as the world's leading superpower. While “we are admiring” of other global female leaders, “there’s nothing to compare it with,” said Pelosi, a California congresswoman, of the moment when Clinton accepted the nomination.

The program Thursday night also aimed to paint a portrait of a devoted daughter, mother and grandmother.

Chelsea Clinton gave a highly personal account of Clinton as a mother, saying “every single memory I have of my mom is that, regardless of what was happening in her life, she was always, always there for me.”

Hillary Clinton sought to demonstrate that her passion for issues — like helping children and people with disabilities — can be traced from her earliest days of adulthood to her current bid for the presidency.

“It’s a culmination of her work over a lifetime," said campaign manager Robby Mook.

Clinton also cast herself as a unifying figure while drawing a contrast with Donald Trump on temperament and even suggesting he's a danger to national security. “Don’t believe anyone who says ‘I alone can fix it,’” she said.

"A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons," said Clinton, citing former President John Kennedy's concerns that "a war might be started – not by big men with self-control and restraint, but by little men – the ones moved by fear and pride."

Given her historically low levels of support from white men, the former secretary of State is counting on a huge gender advantage with women, including with younger females and some moderate Republicans.

 

USAToday

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Clinton Picks Tim Kaine, Sturdy Senator, For Running Mate

Hillary Clinton yesterday picked Tim Kaine, a popular Spanish-speaking senator from the swing state of Virginia, to be her running mate in the White House showdown against Donald Trump, this comes three days before the start of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, where herself and now Kaine will be elevated as the nominees to the party's presidential ticket.

"I'm thrilled to announce my running mate, @timkaine, a man who's devoted his life to fighting for others. -H," the former secretary of state tweeted.

She described him as "a relentless optimist who believes no problem is unsolvable if you put in the work to solve it" saying his guiding principle was "the belief that you can make a difference through public service."

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Attempted coup:161 dead, almost 3,000 detained- Turkey PM

Binali Yildirim, Turkish Prime Minister said 161 people were killed in the coup attempt against the government, with 2,839 soldiers now detained on suspicion of involvement.

Yildirim also declared the situation in his country was "completely under control" after thwarting a military coup aimed at toppling his government.

"The situation is completely under control," said Yildirim in Ankara, flanked by the ministers of justice and interior as well as Turkey's top general outside his offices in the capital.

CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK ENACTS STATEWIDE WAGE, PRESIDENT OBAMA LAUDS THE INCREASES AS A 'HISTORIC STEP'

Governor of California, Jerry Brown signed a bill into law Monday, giving California the nation's highest statewide minimum wage of $15 an hour by 2022.

Opponents argue the hikes could cost thousands of jobs, while a legislative analysis put the ultimate cost to taxpayers at $3.6bn a year in higher pay for government employees.

SAUDI ARABIA: TERRORISM AS STATE POLICY

By Owei Lakemfa

 

In the days of innocence, the preachment was ‘Blessed are the peace makers’ In these days of globalization, rather than make peace, nations tend to stoke the fires of conflict. 

 

So is it with the Saudi Arabia-Iran spat which began with the January 2, 2016 mass execution of forty  seven persons after trials which even the  usually complacent United Nations  described as raising “ serious concerns over the nature of the charges and the fairness of the process”

 

At least four of the victims  are Shiite. These included Sheik Nimr al-Nimr who had been identified with peaceful protests. Nimr, a known anti- gun cleric was shot before being arrested, held for eight months and then charged with nebulous crimes like “breaking allegiance with the ruler” Forty three of the men were beheaded while three faced the firing squad.

 

The execution of Nimr was a clear message to the Shiite minority - which constitute fifteen percent of the Saudi population -  that the authorities will not tolerate any dissent.

 

Not unexpectedly, there were negative reactions . In Iran, protesters attacked  Saudi diplomatic buildings. On Sunday, Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Iran, and interestingly, rather than seek  to deescalate the rising  tension,  a number of countries are stoking the fires. Taking the lead is Bahrain which broke diplomatic relations with Iran on Monday. This is understandable as that country  has been ruled since 1783 by a Sunni minority. When, following the Arab Spring, the populace, which is seventy percent Shia, took to the streets demanding political reforms, Saudi Arabia on March 14, 2011, sent one thousand troops supported by five hundred Emirati soldiers into Bahrain to crush the protests. So for the monarchy in  Bahrain, this is the time to show solidarity with its benefactor.

 

The reason Sudan decided to join the fray by severing diplomatic links with Iran is unclear. But  Sudan realises that Saudi Arabia is one of the favourite sons of  the master in Washington; so what better time to show loyalty to the big boss than now? That may mitigate the unfair  and thuggish attempts by America and its allies to hurl   President  Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir  before the international Criminal Court.

 

Saudi Arabia with its interventions in  Bahrain and  Syria, and bombings in Yemen, has become the new policeman of the Middle East, a role Israel had played over the years. Indeed, one  of the major beneficiaries of the crises and wars  in the Middle East, is Israel, which will have more time to concentrate on the theft of Palestinian lands and denying them an independent  homeland while simultaneously, occupying  Syrian lands like the Golan Heights.

 

However, it will be a mistake to assume that the Saudi monarchy offensive is a defence of faith. In truth, it is a sustained attack on all Saudi citizens, denying them basic rights, masking  economic incompetence  while maintaining its infamous profligacy. Most of the victims of political crackdown in the kingdom are the majority Sunnis. Saudis are jailed for making critical analysis, and, are candidates for beheading if they demand freedom.

 

A major crime is for a Saudi to be accused of “breaking allegiance with the ruler” For this, a number of human rights activists are either in jail or on trial. For instance, activists like Mohammed  al- Qahtani and Abdullah  al-Hamid,  are serving ten and eleven years respectively for such nebulous charges.

 

Now, the monarchy has manufactured a number of “anti-terrorism” laws  which is being used to terrorize Saudis into complete submission. Summarized in eleven paragraphs by the Interior Ministry,  a  terrorist  and  treasonable felon is any Saudi  who engages in the “Abuse of other states and their leaders”  In other words, a Saudi cannot insult  America or  Barack Obama, Russia or Vladimir Putin, Pakistan or Nawal Sharrif, South Africa or Jacob Zuma. But I wonder if this also applies to Syria or Basir al-Assad.  Also classified a terrorist,  is  an atheist or anybody who says anything that can cast doubt on Islam. Any Saudi  who participates  in, calls for or incites combat anywhere in the world, is classified a terrorist. Any Saudi who in the social media or through any means, supports, affiliates or expresses sympathy with any group in the world considered a terrorist organization, is guilty of terrorism.

 

Also declared  a terrorist is any Saudi who communicates  with any group or individual considered  to be terrorist. By Saudi definition, a Saudi is guilty of terrorism and therefore, treasonable felony if he is found “Inciting other states or associations or international organisations against the Kingdom” So  a Saudi who petitions the United Nations or Amnesty International over human rights abuses, or complains to the International labour Organisation over labour practices,  is guilty of terrorism!

 

With such sweeping laws, Saudis will not be able to question  the mismanagement  of their  country’s enormous oil  resources and huge income from pilgrimage. Nor can they protest the imposition of austerity measures which have seen a freeze on appointments, promotions and   new projects.   They cannot  question  the infamous profligacy of the monarchy nor the huge resources frittered away shoring up the wars in Yemen and Syria.

 

The   monarchy does not also think highly of pilgrims and their safety.  Known for its incapability to efficiently organize  pilgrimages which has resulted in horrendous loss of lives  like the 1990  loss of 1,426 people, it is quick to blame the victims. For instance in the last pilgrimage , first a construction crane  collapsed at the Grand Mosque  killing 109 persons.  Thirteen days later,  on September 24,  over one thousand pilgrims were killed  in Mina City  with a number yet to be accounted for.  The immediate  reaction of the Saudi authorities was to blame the dead and injured for allegedly  “not following  established guidelines”. 

 

Following criticism especially from the Iranians, it agreed to investigate the incident including the police closure of some roads in the area immediately leading to the tragedy.

 

Ironically, the  democratic  West and America are comfortable having as a major ally, a country which employs  terrorism as state policy and is allergic to fundamental human and democratic rights.