KARACHI: Well known qawwali singer Amjad Sabri was shot dead by yet-to-be-identified assailants in Karachi. Reports said Sabri, 45, was travelling in a car with an associate when unknown gunmen on motorbikes opened fire at his vehicle in the city's Liaquatabad region. "Three people including Amjab Sabri have been killed in a targeted attack on his car in Liaquatabad area. Sabri was shot in the chest and head and he was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed hospital immediately, where he succumbed to his injuries. The driver and associate have been killed in the targeted attack," a senior official said. The deceased singer was the son of renowned Qawwal Ghulam Farid Sabri, whose family is known for its contribution to sufi art.
Sikhs, Hindus flee Afghanistan
KABUL: The growing atrocities on Sikh and Hindus in Afghanistan has led to insecurity amongst the minority communities. "This is how we begin our day, with fear and isolation. If you are not a Muslim, you are not a human in their eyes. I don't know what to do or where to go," said Jagtar Singh Laghmani, a businessman who was recently threatened by a random man at knife point to convert to Islam. Chairman of the National Council of Hindus and Sikhs, Avtar Singh said the community now numbers fewer than 220 families, compared with around 220,000 members before the collapse of the Kabul government in 1922. "Our lands have been taken by powerful figures in the government, especially by the warlords. We are facing threats, and this small community is getting smaller and smaller every day," he said.
Lanka arrests Pakistani for drug smuggling
COLOMBO: The Police Narcotics Bureau of Sri Lanka Police arrested a Pakistani national for attempting to smuggle in nearly five kg of heroin worth Rs 60 million. Identified as Roydad Khan, he is believed to be the main player of an international drug racket operating out of Rawalpindi in Pakistan and smuggling heroin of Sri Lanka through Qatar. Khan was arrested with the drugs at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake. Director of the Police Narcotics Bureau SSP Kamal Silva said the arrest was a result of extensive investigations launched against the suspect after he was found to be the supplier to two Maldivians arrested with 1.5 kg of heroin in March.
Hillary received money from Indian politicians: Trump
WASHINGTON: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has made fresh allegations on Democratic rival Hillary Clinton of receiving funds from Indian political leaders and institutions in exchange for support of the India-US civil nuclear deal. In a statement, Trump said the allegations, that were published in a 35-page booklet, is an in-depth summary of the top 50 facts about Clinton's record. Citing a New York Times report, it is alleged that Indian politician Amar Singh had donated between $1,000,001 and $5,000,000 to the Clinton Foundation, as early as 2008. Also named is Indian-American Raj Fernando, with allegations citing he was appointed to the State Department's International Security Advisory Board by Clinton's chief of staff Cheryl Mills at her "insistence".
Pak court indicts 6 LeJ men for Lanka team attack
LAHORE: Six Lashkar-e-Jhanghvi's militants have been charged in the 2009 Sri Lankan cricket team attack case by a Pakistani anti-terrorism court. The members include Obaidullah, Javed Anwar, Ibrahim Khalil, Abdul Wahab, Zubair, and Adnan Arshad. While the first three suspects were on bail, the other three were held in Kot Lakhpat Jail; they all pleaded not guilty. In March 2009, a bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked by the Taliban and LeJ militants with sophisticated weapons and grenades at Liberty Chowk near Qaddafi Stadium Lahore. Seven players including captain Mahela Jayawaredene, Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, sustained injuries, while six Pakistani policemen were killed.
100 homes destroyed in California wildfire
LAKE ISABELLA (CALIFORNIA): A massive wildfire struck California killing two people and destroying 100 structures, said officials. They added there could possibly be an increase in the number of victims once the rubble is cleaned. The Erskine Fire, that broke out last week, began at the foothills of Kern County, about 42 miles northeast of Bakersfield, and charred more than 30,000 acres. California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency. Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said, "This has been a massive amount of evacuations, people going door to door asking people to leave their homes because it's very dangerous out there." He confirmed the two deaths, adding, "We're gonna go back over the rubble with cadaver dogs. We don't know if there are more victims who were unable to escape this fire."
