LAHORE // By morning rush hour yesterday, the scene of Tuesday's commando-style attacks on the Sri Lankan national cricket team had been transformed into a mass shrine.
Throughout the day, hundreds of people crowded around a massive poster dedicated to Tanveer Iqbal, a 26-year-old traffic warden who was among seven people killed in what Pakistani officials have described as an act of terrorism.
"Long live the traffic warden!" the crowd chanted between recited prayers, many laying flowers only a few metres from where he was fatally shot.
The victims, identified by Pakistani authorities as elite force officers Tipu Sultan, Mudassar Kumboh, Faisal Butt, Sultan Farid and "Mahmoud", as well Iqbal and one of the team's drivers, Zafar Khan, were fatally shot when 12 heavily armed gunmen ambushed a convoy carrying Sri Lankan players and coaches to Lahore's Qadafi Stadium. None of the cricketers suffered serious injury.
In the aftermath of the bloodshed that tore through this relatively peaceful Pakistani city, the law enforcement officials who were killed in Tuesday's attack have been hailed as heroes and martyrs. Witnesses described them as human shields that served to protect the widely revered sportsmen.
"The terrorists tried to kill the Sri Lankan players but the amazing traffic walas [wardens] saved them - they were so brave," said Ayub Shahid, an engineer who returned to the scene to pay his respects one day after witnessing the onslaught.
However, along with the tribute, there is also a belief circulating among Pakistanis, particularly within the country's law enforcement community, that the deaths could have been prevented had the officers been better equipped to confront such a sophisticated security threat. Traffic wardens said they were no match for the assailants, who were armed with AK-47 rifles, grenades and even rocket launchers.
"We are all empty-handed - this is the policy of the government," said Mohammed Faisal, a traffic warden in Lahore, standing alongside his shaken colleague Mr Shauwkat, who was just a few steps away from Iqbal when he was fatally shot.
Pakistan's increasingly apparent security gaps have sparked international criticism about the country's ability to stifle its growing militant problem.
Punjab's governor, Salmaan Taseer, said he would hold an inquiry into security lapses that might have paved the way for this broad daylight attack to occur at a major city junction. He denied allegations by the former chief minister Shehbaz Sharif that the security failure was the result of the recently heightened political wrangling in the province.
"We saved the Sri Lankan team," Mr Taseer said, suggesting that the tragedy could have been a lot worse had his government failed to provide the proper security precautions.
Still, some law enforcement officers believe that much more could have been done to save their colleagues.
"We could have done something about these attacks but none of us has a weapon and the police walas have only sticks. Who can fight the terrorists this way?" said another traffic warden who asked not to be identified for fear of repercussions.
Traffic police in Lahore earn an average of 20,000 Pakistani rupees (Dh920) a month. This low salary comes after a pay increase was approved by the former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in 2006 in an effort to curb corruption among low-paid street officers. Traffic police also received new uniforms and greater job opportunities as part of the move by Punjabi officials.
Still, they work long hours and receive nothing in the way of health care or social benefits.
Mr Faisal believes these conditions are unacceptable, particularly when faced with circumstances that put their lives at risk. "No weapons and no health care? It is so demoralising for us. How can we do our jobs properly?" he asked. "[Iqbal] is not a hero, he is a victim. It can happen to any of us."
vsalama@thenational.ae
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
On Instagram: @WithHopeUAE
Although social media can be harmful to our mental health, paradoxically, one of the antidotes comes with the many social-media accounts devoted to normalising mental-health struggles. With Hope UAE is one of them.
The group, which has about 3,600 followers, was started three years ago by five Emirati women to address the stigma surrounding the subject. Via Instagram, the group recently began featuring personal accounts by Emiratis. The posts are written under the hashtag #mymindmatters, along with a black-and-white photo of the subject holding the group’s signature red balloon.
“Depression is ugly,” says one of the users, Amani. “It paints everything around me and everything in me.”
Saaed, meanwhile, faces the daunting task of caring for four family members with psychological disorders. “I’ve had no support and no resources here to help me,” he says. “It has been, and still is, a one-man battle against the demons of fractured minds.”
In addition to With Hope UAE’s frank social-media presence, the group holds talks and workshops in Dubai. “Change takes time,” Reem Al Ali, vice chairman and a founding member of With Hope UAE, told The National earlier this year. “It won’t happen overnight, and it will take persistent and passionate people to bring about this change.”
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.3-litre%20turbo%204-cyl%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E298hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E452Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETowing%20capacity%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.4-tonne%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPayload%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4WD%20%E2%80%93%20776kg%3B%20Rear-wheel%20drive%20819kg%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPrice%3A%20Dh138%2C945%20(XLT)%20Dh193%2C095%20(Wildtrak)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDelivery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20from%20August%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
You might also like to read
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Regional Qualifier
The top three teams progress to the Asia Qualifier
Final: UAE beat Qatar by nine wickets
Third-place play-off: Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by five runs
Table
1 UAE 5 5 0 10
2 Qatar 5 4 1 8
3 Saudi 5 3 2 6
4 Kuwait 5 2 3 4
5 Bahrain 5 1 4 2
6 Maldives 5 0 5 0
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE SQUAD
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Mohamed Usman (vice captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Imran Haider, Tahir Mughal, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed, Fahad Nawaz, Abdul Shakoor, Sultan Ahmed, CP Rizwan
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):
1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop
2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia - £25m: Flop
3). Erik Lamela - Roma - £25m: Jury still out
4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen - £25m: Success
5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic - £21m: Flop
6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar - £18m: Flop
7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers - £18m: Flop
8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb - £17m: Success
9). Paulinho - Corinthians - £16m: Flop
10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham - £16m: Success
Read more about the coronavirus
Pathaan
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Siddharth%20Anand%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shah%20Rukh%20Khan%2C%20Deepika%20Padukone%2C%20John%20Abraham%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
