NEW DELHI // While people across the world have been remembering the victims of last November's Mumbai terrorist attack, a Pakistani family of victims of the Samjhauta Express train blasts in 2007 is still struggling to get compensation money from the Indian government.
Fifty-year-old Rana Shaukat Ali, a shopkeeper from Samnabad in Faisalabad, is in New Delhi along with his wife, Ruksana, and their only surviving daughter trying to get the money that was awarded by an Indian court.
The couple lost five of their six children in the twin blasts, which killed 68 people including 42 Pakistani nationals, onboard the "India-Pakistan friendship train" on February 18, 2007 near the Indian city of Panipat, 100km from New Delhi.
Mr Ali and his family had come to India to attend the wedding ceremony of their niece. The couple lost three sons and two daughters in the blast. One-year old Aqsa survived with minor injuries.
In October, Indian Railways issued 10 cheques worth two million rupees (Dh157,000) to Mr Ali; however, his Pakistani nationality did not allow him to cash the cheques in India. He was forced to pursue the case through the labyrinth of Indian bureaucracy.
"We have been trailing the compensation case with the Indian Railways claims tribunal for more than two years now. Finally, the tribunal court gave a judgment and awarded compensation to us," Mr Ali said. "We came to know through my brother and a friend that the court has given a judgment in our favour. We came to India last month to collect the cheques, but being a Pakistani I cannot open an account in India and Pakistani banks will not accept this cheque. There is no way I can transfer the money to Pakistan."
The Indian Reserve Bank bars Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals without special permission from opening bank accounts in India. Mr Ali, with the help of a voluntarily organisation, South Asian Forum for People Against Terror (Safpat) has petitioned the Indian external minister, S M Krishna, to intervene in the matter.
"The cheques issued to us are valid until December 19. Unless the Indian government doesn't rethink, it will be impossible for us to use this money," he said.
Mr Ali said his chances of receiving the money are quite low during his current stay in India because his visa will expire this week. Although he has applied for an extension, he said he will probably not be allowed to continue his stay in India.
"We want to give a secure future to our daughter. We cannot repair the loss by the compensation money, but it will secure her future. I never wanted to come to India and pursue the case as it snatched everything from me, but it was all for my daughter's sake," Mr Ali said.
"I cannot forget the sight when I saw the dead bodies of my children turned into a heap of charcoal. It took me hours to recognise their bodies. They were burnt beyond recognition."
The Indian government had blamed Pakistan-based militant groups of carrying out the train attack.
However, Indian police charged the former army Lt Col P S Purohit and several Hindu militants of carrying out the Samjhauta train explosions. The men, who are in custody, are also accused of carrying out a series of blasts in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
"I am dismayed over the pace of investigations into the attacks. The Indian government should speed up their investigations and bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice," Mr Ali said.
Last year, the Mumbai police chief, Hemant Karkare, filed a charge sheet against Mr Purohit saying he had helped carry out the blasts. After Karkare's death in the Mumbai attacks, investigations have been stalled, Mr Ali claimed.
Ruksana Ali said she still dreads the thought of the explosions. "We lost everything in a moment; every time I pray, I seek Allah's mercy on the people who killed my children. It will be difficult to overcome with the thought of losing five children, but it was Allah's will and Aqsa's presence which helped me to survive," she said.
Notwithstanding the political animosities between India and Pakistan, Mr Ali and his wife participated in the sit-in to commemorate the first anniversary of the Mumbai attacks on November 26 that was organised by Safpat in New Delhi.
"We are here to share our grief with the victims of the Mumbai attacks, Delhi blasts and all terror attacks happening in India and Pakistan. Terrorism has no borders, whether it is Mumbai or Karachi, innocents are killed," Mr Ali said.
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
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Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
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Number of tracks: 11
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Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history
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Engine: 6.2-litre V8
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Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Company%20Profile
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Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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THREE
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Models: Meti and Clinton at MMG
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Specs%20
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Overall head-to-head
Federer 6-1 Cilic
Head-to-head at Wimbledon
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Grand Slams titles
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Best Wimbledon performance
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Cilic: Final (2017*)
Our family matters legal consultant
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Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now
There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:
1. Rising US interest rates
The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.
Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”
At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.
2. Stronger dollar
High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.”
3. Global trade war
Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”
4. Eurozone uncertainty
Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”
The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”