Three Pakistanis killed by car in Birmingham riots

LONDON: Three Pakistani men died Wednesday after being hit by a car during riots in Birmingham, officials said, as witnesses said they died while trying to protect their community from looters.

The deceased include two brothers Shehzad Hussain and Haroon Hussain and another youth Mussavir Ali.

Police said they had arrested a man and launched a murder inquiry after the incident which happened at around 1:00 am (0000 GMT) as Britain’s second largest city suffered from another night of riots.

Paramedics said they found around 80 people at the scene after the men were hit by the car. Two of the men were pronounced dead on the spot and the third died later in hospital.

Witnesses and family members said the victims were Pakistani men and were part of a group protecting the area from looting after local people had left a local mosque.

“People came out of prayers and they were protecting the area. My friends were targeted — they were standing on the side of the road and the car just came and ran them over,” witness Kabir Khan Isakhel said.

Another witness said the incident happened after a car was set ablaze in a nearby street and youths gathered, prompting local people to defend a local shopping area.

“They lost their lives for other people, doing the job of the police,” Mohammed Shakiel said outside the hospital where the men were taken, prompting around 200 people to gather in support.

“They were protecting the community as a whole.”

Several cars drove past the group as it was guarding the stores and the occupants shouted abuse before one vehicle returned and mounted the pavement at “tremendous speed” and hit the men, throwing them into the air, Shakiel said.

Tariq Jahan, the father of Haroon Jahan, one of the men who died, told the BBC: “I’ve got no words to describe what, why he was taken and why this has happened.”

“He was a very good lad, starting at the beginning of his life. He had his whole life ahead of him. It makes no sense why people are behaving like this and taking the lives of three innocent people.”

Police said a 32-year-old man was being held on suspicion of murder. It said the victims were aged 20, 30 and 31.

“West Midlands Police have launched a murder enquiry, arrested one man in connection with the incident and recovered a vehicle nearby which will be examined by forensics experts,” a police statement said.

Britain has been hit by four nights of violent rioting. London was quieter on Tuesday night but the unrest spread to other cities including Manchester and Birmingham. AGENCIES/ TrendPK

HBO’s “Treme” snubbed for NAACP Award

TrendPK.com: It was surprising enough that “Treme” earned only one NAACP Image award nomination—but, not as surprising as its loss to “Gray’s Anatomy”. The Outstanding Drama Series nod was “Treme’s” only hope for its cast and crew to be recognized at the awards. Yet, “Gray’s Anatomy” (which holds no thematic focus on the minority community, nor a wealth of minority actors) walked away with this year’s honors.

It wasn’t for a dearth of talent–current star Khandi Alexander has been nominated for six NAACP Image Awards over the years, with a 2005 win for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for CSI: Miami. Wendell Pierce has also been an NAACP Image Award nominee for his work on “The Wire” and a winner for his work on “Life Support”. Also starring in “Treme” are Academy Award winner Melissa Leo, and Emmy and Golden Globe winner John Goodman.

The stated goal of the NAACP Image Awards is to honor “the outstanding achievements and performances of people of color in the arts…as well as those individuals or groups who promote social justice through their creative endeavors”. The HBO series follows the lives of an interconnected group of New Orleans residents as they reconstruct their lives after Hurricane Katrina, many of whom are African-American. “Treme” actors and the series itself were also overlooked at the Emmys, though certain episodes were nominated for direction and original music and lyrics.

Manholes cause havoc in D. I. Khan

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Open manholes and potholes on all main streets and roads of Dera Ismail Khan are causing havoc with the lives of citizens.

The manholes have been made for supply of telecom and Sui gas connections on main roads of the city including circler road.

PTCL and SNGC officials have blamed Town Municipal Administration (TMA) for the problem.

Local people said that they have been suffering a lot due to the negligence of TMA. They said that open manholes are leading to loss of innocent lives caused by accidents. TrendPK

Life on footpaths – Trend Pk VIDEO

Khurram Hashmi reports on the lives on Karachi’s footpaths. (November 05, 2010)

Life on footpaths – Trend Pk VIDEO

Khurram Hashmi reports on the lives on Karachi’s footpaths. (November 05, 2010)

Life on footpaths – Trend Pk VIDEO

Khurram Hashmi reports on the lives on Karachi’s footpaths. (November 05, 2010)

Life on footpaths – Trend Pk VIDEO

Khurram Hashmi reports on the lives on Karachi’s footpaths. (November 05, 2010)

Life on footpaths – Trend Pk VIDEO

Khurram Hashmi reports on the lives on Karachi’s footpaths. (November 05, 2010)

Life on footpaths – Trend Pk VIDEO

Khurram Hashmi reports on the lives on Karachi’s footpaths. (November 05, 2010)

Life on footpaths – Trend Pk VIDEO

Khurram Hashmi reports on the lives on Karachi’s footpaths. (November 05, 2010)

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