Rate of car accidents in Qatar has declined by 18 ... - Qatar Tribune

PROCESSING
OF CORD
BLOOD STEM
CELLS BEGINS
AT VIRGIN
HEALTH BANK
PAGE 14 | DATELINE DOHA
Weather Today
HOT
Sunrise
5:10 am
Sunset
6:03 pm
High 39ºC
Low 32ºC
Wind
15 kts
Visibility
moderate
Pressure
1013 mb
Rel. humidity 74%
QATARGAS
ACHIEVES
SAFETY
MILESTONE
PAGE 19 | METRO MUSINGS
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
FULL OF EUPHORIA,
EXPATS HOPE
FOR UNITY &
DEMOCRACY IN
POST-QADHAFI
LIBYA
PAGE 20 | QT SPOTLIGHT ON LIBYA
PRAYER TIMING
Fajr: 3:51 am Dhuhr: 11:37 am
Asr: 3:07 pm Maghrib: 6:04 pm
Isha: 7:33 pm
Today
Iftar 6: 04
Tomorrow
Suhoor 3: 51
Nationline
PM discusses developments
in Libya with world leaders
PRIME Minister and Minister of
Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Hamad
bin Jassim bin Jabor al Thani held
a host of telephonic conversations
with world leaders on the latest
developments in Libya on Monday.
The Prime Minister received a telephone
call from British Prime
Minister David Cameron. He also
held conversations with the US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,
the UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh
Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan,
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu, Danish Minister for
Foreign Affairs Lene Espersen,
Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence
Cannon, Germany’s Foreign
Minister Guido Westerwelle, British
Foreign Secretary William Hague,
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe
and Italian Foreign Minister Franco
Frattini. (QNA)
Rate of car accidents in Qatar has
declined by 18% in 2010: QSA report
IHSAN YOUSSEF
DOHA
THE rate of car accidents has
declined by 18 percent in 2010,
compared to the year 2009,
according to a Qatar Statistics
Authority (QSA) report.
The QSA report, which was
released on Monday, attributed
47 percent of car accident cases to
rash and negligent driving while
18 percent of accidents were
caused due to overtaking on the
road. At least 17 percent car accidents
are caused due to jumping
of traffic signals.
The total number of traffic violation
cases in 2010 was 432,000.
The highest number of traffic violation
cases, which was estimated
to be 54,000, were caused by
over-speeding vehicles. The
report stated that the number of
violations registered for not using
the safety belt was 60,000.
As for the traffic accident
cases, the report showed that 770
cases of car accidents were registered
with Al Shamal traffic
An overturned car in Al Mamoura area, in Doha, recently. (JALAL PATHIYOOR)
department, with the highest
number of deaths (56) also
reported under its jurisdiction.
The report stated that the number
of car accident cases during
2010 was estimated to be 819,
out of which 416 accidents
occurred in residential areas.
The QSA annual report also
dealt with security and judiciary
system. The QSA report released
the number of Qatari lawyers,
whether employed or undertaking
training in 2010. According to the
report, there were 111 Qatari
lawyers, which included 14 female
lawyers. It further provides tables
that include data and figures on
the number of judges and lawyers
who presided over and presented
cases in courts and the verdicts
issued by them.
The report was jointly prepared
by the Supreme Judiciary
Council, the Attorney general and
the Ministry of Interior. It also
includes the civil defence services
which deals with fire-fighting and
rescue and relief operations.
The report stated that
the number of car
accident cases during
2010 was estimated
to be 819.
The report also released data
on crimes which has been
classified into 21 groups. It
indicated that 28 percent of the
16,000 criminal cases were
caused due to cheque bounce.
Incidentally, it forms among
the highest number of the crime
rates in the country.
ABA Group hosts iftar and
donates QR150,000 to QRCS
TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK
DOHA
It is a delight for our
management to have
been invited for this
iftar. It is important
for us to receive this
kind of support from
a non-governmental,
private company.
AHMED AL KAHTANI
THE Ali Bin Ali (ABA) Group
hosted iftar for officials of the
Qatar Red Crescent Society
(QRCS) management at W
Hotel’s Ramadan tent, recently.
The main aim of the gathering
was to celebrate the spirit of
the Holy Month of Ramadan
together.
The Ali bin Ali Group contributed
QR150,000 to the
Qatar Red Crescent Society at
the end of the iftar gathering.
The amount will boost the QRCS
to further their valuable
Ramadan charity work of helping
50 needy families in the
fields of health and education.
Speaking on the occasion, ABA
Group’s Vice-Chairman Nabeel
Ali bin Ali said, “We, at the Ali
bin Ali Group, are pleased to
have this opportunity to share
the spirit of Ramadan with a
noble association like the Qatar
Red Crescent Society. This iftar
gathering was planned, especially
to uphold the spirit of
Ramadan. We are happy to host
an iftar for the management of
the QRCS who dedicated themselves
for the well-being of the community
throughout the year.”
Talking on behalf of the QRCS,
Manager of Financial Resource
Development Ahmed al Kahtani
said, “It is a delight for our management
to have been invited for
this iftar. It is important for us to
receive this kind of support from a
non-governmental, private company.
We appreciate this kind
gesture of the Ali bin Ali Group.”
ABA Group’s Vice-Chairman Nabeel Ali bin Ali (centre) with QRCS Manager of Financial Resource
Development Ahmed al Kahtani (left) at a function, in Doha, recently.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011
14 www.qatar-tribune.com
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Hamad Hospital 44394444
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EMIR MEETS EX-MALI PRESIDENT, ENVOYS OF FRANCE, DJIBOUTI
The Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani with former President of Mali Alpha
Oumar Konare, in Doha, on Sunday.
The Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani with
outgoing French Ambassador HE Gilles Bono, in Doha, on Sunday.
HH The Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani with outgoing
envoy of Djibouti HE Mhamada Ali Mhamada, in Doha, on Sunday.
Processing of cord blood stem
cells begins at Virgin Health Bank
TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK
DOHA
THE laboratory of Virgin
Health Bank at QSTP has
started processing and storing
cord blood stem cells for
families in Doha.
The laboratory is regarded
as the most technologically
advanced in the region, with
compliance to international
regulatory standards.
It is capable of storing
50,000 individual stem cell
units, a press release said.
It was established to meet
the needs of the Arab and
expatriate communities.
Working in conjunction
with Hamad Medical
Corporation and the private
sector hospitals, Virgin
Health Bank has established a
unique service, which combines
educational initiatives
with quality transplant services.
It is the only cord blood
banking service that the
Supreme Council of Health
has licensed to operate in
Qatar.
The new cord blood bank
has been designed to meet the
needs of individual families
who want to store their baby’s
cord blood and to support
Virgin Health Bank CEO
Dr Rajan Jethwa
public cord blood banking
programmes in the future.
Virgin Health Bank CEO Dr
Rajan Jethwa said: “Every
year, thousands of cord blood
stem cell transplants take
place to save lives that would
otherwise be lost. Currently, a
lack of stem cells from within
the Arab community means
that it is highly unlikely that
an Arab patient would find a
matched transplant unit on
one of the international donor
registries. With the commissioning
of our new cord blood
Virgin Health Bank’s stem cell processing and storage facility at
QSTP, in Doha.
bank, families can now collect
and store the cord blood stem
cells of their newborn babies
in Doha in a facility that provides
them with transplant
quality services.”
“The unique operational
model that we have built has
set new quality standards in
cord blood banking and it is
no coincidence that it is now
attracting interest from many
other countries. At Virgin
Health Bank, we believe that
families have a right to accurate
information about cord
blood banking and access to
high quality services. Our
purpose is to meet those
needs,” he added.
Cord blood stem cells represent
one of the most exciting
areas of development
within medicine. Today, there
are over 80 diseases for which
stem cells can provide a cure.
These include blood disorders
such as beta thalassemia and
sickle cell anaemia and cancers
of the blood and immune
system such as leukaemias
and lymphomas. Many scientists
and doctors believe that
clinical trials currently underway
around the world will
create treatments for other
conditions such as diabetes,
stroke and heart disease.
However, accessing those
treatments will only be possible
if genetically matched
stem cells are available and
that’s why Virgin Health Bank
at QSTP was established to
provide services to Qatar residents.
Virgin Health Bank has
signed agreements with
Hamad
Medical
Corporation’s Women’s
Hospital and the private hospitals
in Qatar to ensure that
its cord blood banking services
are available to all families
who want to use them.
Since it began providing
Qatar’s families with cord
blood banking services in
2009, it has successfully
banked hundreds of stem cell
units in its facility in the United
Kingdom. Families can access
more information about cord
blood banking by calling
Virgin Health Bank’s team of
bilingual clinical advisors on
+974 4405 1414 or visiting the
website, www.virginhealthbank.com.qa
Humid conditions to
continue till tomorrow
RAJESH MISHRA
DOHA
WITH residents sweating it
out over the last two days
and the humidity rising to
around 95 percent from 60
to 65 percent, the
Department of Meteorology
has forecasted that the
humid conditions will continue
till Wednesday.
Talking to Qatar Tribune
on Monday, Head of the
Met Forecast and Analysis
Section
Abdulla
Mohammed al Mannai
said, “The humid conditions
will continue till
Wednesday because of the
south-easterly winds. From
Thursday, indications are
that the direction of the
wind would again shift to
north-westerly leading to
sharp decline in relative
humidity.”
According to the forecast,
it will be a hot, humid and
hazy weather on Tuesday
with the sea wind changing
direction from north-easterly
to south-easterly and its
speed reaching 18 knots. The
forecast adds that visibility
would be reduced to three
kilometres or less at times.
Met, however, pointed
out that there would be
some decline in maximum
relative humidity in Doha
and its adjoining areas from
90 percent and 95 percent
to 80 and 85 percent on
Tuesday.
For example, it said that
the maximum relative
humidity in Doha and Al
Wakrah on Tuesday are
expected to be 85 percent;
in Abu Samra and Mesaieed
80 percent; and in Dukhan
75 percent, which will further
dip to 60 percent on
Wednesday.
When asked about the
reason behind sudden shifts
in weather condition from a
somewhat cool to hot and
humid and vice-versa being
witnessed recently, al
Mannai said, “The sudden
shifts in weather conditions
are caused by sudden
changes in the direction of
wind. South-easterly wind
comes from the sea and is
hot and humid because of
the moist content whereas
north-easterly wind is relatively
cool.”
The Met official said that it
was normal to have hot and
humid conditions during this
time of summer in the country.
The maximum temperature
will however, remain
unchanged and continue to
hover around 38 degrees
Celsius during the next two
days, according to the
weather forecast.
Indian artistes, singers
to perform on Sept 2
SANTHOSH CHANDRAN
DOHA
NOTED Indian artistes and
singers will perform during a
stage show at MES Indian
School on September 2.
The show, titled ‘Marhaba’,
is being organised by
Thanyam Grama Panchayath
Peringottukara Association
(TGPA), a Kerala forum, as
part of activities to celebrate
Eid al Fitr and Onam, an
important festival of the
Kerala community.
It will be attended by popular
Malayalam language cinema
artistes and playback
singers such as Shwetha
Menon, Archana Kavi, Suaraj
Venjaramoodu and playback
singers Rimmy Tomy and
Seena Ramesh.
Lulu Group Regional
Director Mohammed Althaff
released the ticket of the programme
by handing over the
first copy to Argon Group
Chief Executive Officer Abdul
Gafoor at a function recently.
Speaking at press conference,
Ashraff, who is also the
president of the forum, said
that funds generated from the
programme would be used to
open medical centres in
Thanyam province of
Thrissur district in the Indian
state of Kerala. The programme
will feature dance,
comedy skits and music.
Supernova defeats Gondolania at Sarong Boses tourney
TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK
DOHA
SUPERNOVA Entertainment
basketball team defeated
their Gondolania Amusement
Center counterparts by 106
points to 26 during the opening
match at the second
Sarong Boses Qatar
Invitational Basketball
League at Al Saad Sports
Stadium recently.
The combination of Jufe
Azur and Jojo Bragat in the
scoring chores gave
Supernova Entertainment an
early upper hand on the
Gondolania, while the
defence was built by Julius
Legaspi, Jude Bolo and
Richard Cirio.
Another match of the day
Players of Supernova and Gondolania during their match, in Doha, recently.
featured NATSCO Autoshop
and last edition second runner-up
Salam Studio and
Stores teams. NATSCO’s
Erwin Gonzales pumped in 18
points to catapult his team to
a whopping 74-53 victory.
NATSCO Autoshop capitalised
on the collapse of
Salam’s defence in the second
half to book their victory.
The day also featured a
keenly-competed match
between Al Dar Works and
Strabag-Zublin which ended
in 56-45 in favour of the former.
Fans waited for one of the
featured matches of the day,
between the crowd favourite
Kone Elevators and Pinoy
Dabarkads (PDB) Qatar.
Hillary Isnani contributed 16
points to PDB’s balanced
offence to record a 67-53 win
against Kone. Paris Gallery
registered another win
against the Warriors by 71-52
points.

Advertising Hotline : 00974 4456 92 43
Email : advertising@qatar-tribune.com
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 15

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Tuesday, August 23, 2011
17
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We help people to lead healthier lives. Call for
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AL MUFTAH RENT A CAR
P O Box 1316, Doha, Qatar,
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Tel: +974 44634444 / 44328100 Fax:
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LEMON CATERING
Undertakes catering services for
companies in yearly contracts basis,
professional team;
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IMMIGRATION CONSULTANCY
C- Ring Road Tel: +974 44442003
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Airport Tel: +974 44634433 /
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Lower rates Car Rentals in Salwa
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Contact us: 44212462 and
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Email: info@tgi.com.qaWebsite:
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Gulf Driving School
Tel: 4465 2822
United Driving Company
Tel: 4468 1003
Avis Rent-A-Car
Tel: 4466 7744
Budget Rent-A-Car
Tel: 4431 0411
EuroDollar
Tel: 4432 1313
Central English Speaking
Kindergarten
Tel: 4413 5675
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Cocorico Nursery
Tel: 4488 1583
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Creative Child
Tel: 4479 5916
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the world leader in providing Global
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Walk-in for free counseling between
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CERTIFICATE ATTESTATION &
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18 Tuesday, August 23, 2011
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E-mail: goodwill.cargo@yahoo.com

METRO MUSINGS
Qatargas achieves safety milestone
TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK
DOHA
QATARGAS’ Plateau
Maintenance Project (PMP)
has achieved a significant
safety milestone as the project’s
2000-strong workforce
completed three million man
hours without any lost time
injury (LTI). This milestone
was facilitated by the project’s
behavioural-based safety
observation programme
which recently exceeded a
40,000 stop cards plateau.
The project will ensure the
production capacity of
Qatargas 1 is maintained at
10 million tonnes per annum
(MTA) of liquefied natural
gas (LNG). This will be
accomplished by drilling
additional offshore wells,
modifying associated offshore
facilities, modifying the
existing Qatargas Trains 1-3,
and adding onshore facilities
to accommodate expected
increases in feed gas and
hydrogen sulfide (H2S).
Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim
al Thani, chief operating officer
of engineering & ventures
at Qatargas, said: “This
is a significant accomplishment
for the PMP team.
Safety is a core value and an
integral part of the Qatargas
culture at every level. We
want each and every employee
to go home safely, everyday.
I thank the PMP workforce
for their commitment
Work on Qatargas’ Plateau Maintenance Project in progress.
to safety as it is their commitment
that made this
accomplishment possible.”
James Ierubino, PMP
project manager, said:
“Keeping our people safe is a
continuous and relentless
effort. In order to mitigate
risks, the team uses ‘STOP’
observation cards to document
safe and unsafe behaviours
and conditions. This
data is studied thoroughly
each week, and mitigating
measures are continuously
applied based on this analysis
and trends.
“From day one since the
Engineering, Procurement
and Construction (EPC) contract
was signed for the project,
the team has focused on
applying the Incident and
Injury Free (IFF) initiative of
Qatargas and the STOP card
mechanism, which is a typical
proactive activity and
leading indicator for a safe
workplace. We know it will
require harder work going
forward to ensure none of
our team members experience
any kind of discomfort”.
The Qatargas 1 facilities
were initially built to produce
six MTA of LNG. These facilities
were upgraded in 2005
through a debottlenecking
project which resulted in a
new capacity of 10 MTA.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
www.qatar-tribune.com 19
QNB announces
20 winners of June
‘Use & Win’ draw
TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK
DOHA
QNB has announced the
names of 20 winners of its ‘Use
& Win’ campaign for the
month of June. The winners
had all their payments made to
Kahramaa and Qtel in June
refunded. All QNB and non
QNB customers who used
QNB ATMs to make
Kahramaa and Qtel bill payments
were eligible for the
promotion.
The draw was open to everyone,
including both QNB customers
and customers using
the ATM cards of other banks
to complete their transactions.
The winners are: Fahad
Mohammed Faisal Naqadan,
Jasim Hamash Nasir Mohd al
Sahouti, Manal Sultan M B al
Muhanadi, Mohd Hadi Mohd
Masoud al Fehaida, Jamal al
Sharshini, Ameen Abubacher,
Mohab M Zaki, Abdelouahab
Abdesselam, Firas Akram
Kadora, Hanan Badia Yousef,
Jephy Varghese K,
Swaminathan Anantha
Narayanan, Antonio Jesus,
Javaid Iqbal Abid, Marwan
Suhail Abo laghd, Bayby Sabida
Nechikkadu, Prasanthkumar
Narayanan Nair, Mohamad
Ansar Eriyathum Parambil
Sayid, Kiritkumar Patel and
Asbel Nigatu.
The promotion is part of a
five-month campaign, which
started in May and will end in
September. During the campaign,
QNB will offer anyone
paying their Kahramaa and
Qtel monthly bills or purchasing
Qtel’s prepaid services
through the bank’s ATM network,
the chance to win a
grand prize of Jeep Grand
Cherokee.
For every QR50 spent, participants
will get additional
chances to win. In addition, 20
monthly winners will have all
their bills of the month paid
through a QNB ATM, refunded
by the bank. They will also
stand a chance to win a Jeep
Grand Charokee at the grand
draw.
To register for the prize
draws, customers are required
to complete a one-time registration
at any QNB ATM while
more information can be
obtained by sending SMS stating
the word ‘WIN’ to 92776.
The campaign is part of
QNB’s plan to provide further
functionality and rewards to
support the everyday customer’s
need to bank on the
move and have access to not
just traditional banking services
but also have access to
essential payment solutions
around the clock via the bank’s
e-channels.
al khaliji hosts clients
TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK
DOHA
AL KHALIJ Commercial
Bank (al khaliji) is holding
iftars and suhoors for its customers
with staff and regional
managers from all the bank’s
segments, including business
banking, corporate banking,
and premium banking at the
Four Seasons Hotel.
These events allow for
enhancing relationships and
provide a networking platform
between the bank’s staff
and their clientele.
The events are being held to
show appreciation for those
involved in al khaliji’s
achievements over the years.
al khaliji offers a full range
of conventional banking
products and services to
retail, business, corporate
and institutional customers.
It has a subsidiary in Paris,
France, with a network of
branches in the UAE covering
Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al
Khaima, and Abu Dhabi. The
branch network offers customers
and businesses local,
regional and international
banking services.
With headquarters in
Doha, al khaliji is one of
Qatar’s leading banks and a
member of the Qatar
Exchange Index, with
QR23.44 billion in total assets
and QR9.96 billion in customer
deposits as on June 30.
The events are
being held to show
appreciation for
those involved in
al khaliji’s achievements
over the
years.
“At al khaliji we believe that
success lies in the financial
security and development of
people to enable them to sustain
a prosperous life. Our
products and level of service
reflect our belief that to be
successful, we must meet the
needs of both this generation
and future generations of
employees, customers,
investors and business partners.
“While financial objectives
are key to sustaining our
prosperity in any market, at al
khaliji, we believe that longterm
sustainability is maintained
by balancing our commitments
to achieving our
results, with the commitment
towards the development of
people and the preservation
of natural resources,” a statement
issued by the bank said.
Millennium Hotel staff with leaflets about the importance of blood donation, in Doha, recently.
Millennium Hotel holds blood donation drive
TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK
DOHA
MILLENNIUM Hotel, in
collaboration with the
Hamad
Medical
Corporation, organised an
awareness drive on the
importance of blood donation
recently.
The campaign was part of
a wider corporate initiative
which sees all Millennium &
Copthorne hotels in the
region joining to volunteer
for a good cause.
During the campaign,
more than 20 volunteers
from various departments of
Millennium Hotel handed
out flyers at different places
near the hotel, explaining
the importance of donating
blood.
A blood donation drive is
due to take place at the hotel
on September 20 and over
40 staff of the hotel, many of
them first-time donors, have
already signed up.
Envoy commends Pak Shamaa School
L N MALLICK
DOHA
Pakistan Ambassador HE Muhammad Sarfraz A Khanzada (centre) with Pak Shamaa School
management committee members and embassy officials, in Doha, recently.
AMBASSADOR of Pakistan
HE Muhammad Sarfraz A
Khanzada has thanked the
management and staff of Pak
Shamaa School for the commendable
successes and
achievements the school has
achieved since its establishment
in 1958.
Speaking at a get-together
and iftar hosted by the president
of the school’s management
committee, MA Shahid,
the ambassador assured of
continuous support for the
school’s community welfare
and developmental activities.
Shahid hosted the gettogether
followed by iftar at
Retaj Tower, in honour of the
ambassador and embassy
officials.
Mohammad Abrar
Hussain, a senior member of
the committee, said the purpose
of the event was to introduce
the management committee
members to the
ambassador who resumed
office recently.
Hussain said the school has
well qualified and experienced
teaching staff. “It not
only meets the academic
needs of the students but also
helps in developing balanced
personalities among its students
for building their
future,” he said.
Embassy officials who
attended the function included
Second Secretary Ashar
Shahzad, Counsellor II
Mohammad Afzal Shaikh,
Counsellor Anwar Ali Khan,
Defence Attache Commodore
Zafar Mansoor Tipu and
Community Welfare Attache
Dr Syed Mansoor Rizvi.
Pak Shamaa managment
committee members
Manzoor Ahmed, Nazar
Malik, Muhammad Akram,
Muhammad Abrar Hussain,
Adeel Akbar, Taher D
Hussain and Muhammad
Asif were also introduced to
the envoy.
Pak Shamaa School is the
oldest expatriate educational
institution in the country,
serving the Pakistani and
other communities.
The school is registered
under the Ministry of
Education, and affiliated to
the Islamabad-based Federal
Board of Intermediate and
Secondary Education.
The new campus of the
school provides spacious
classrooms, playground and
well-equipped science laboratories.
The school regularly
organises workshops, training
courses and seminars for
the faculty to enable them
meet the challenges of modern
educational systems.
Body Shop joins hands
with QF in combating
human trafficking
TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK
DOHA
THE Body Shop has joined
hands with Qatar Foundation
for Combating Human
Trafficking and Hyatt Plaza to
celebrate the biggest petition
in its history which says ‘Stop
the Trafficking of Children
and Young People’.
Over 15,000 petitions have
been collected in the country
to say ‘Stop’ to what is considered
to be the third largest
and fastest growing criminal
industry in the world.
The celebration will start at
9pm on Tuesday at Hyatt
Plaza Mall, in front of Body
Shop.
The attendees will also celebrate
by taking a memorial
photograph marking the successful
completion of the
campaign in Qatar and
around the world.
This petition activity has
been replicated in some 50
countries around the world
where the Body Shop has a
presence.
The celebration
will start at 9pm on
Tuesday at Hyatt
Plaza Mall, in front
of Body Shop.
Global petition signatures
currently stand at nearly six
million. Once collected
together, they will be presented
to the United Nations, urging
the organisation to drive
for global legislative change.
Visitors to Hyatt Plaza have
been invited to join in the celebration
of the petition.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011
20 www.qatar-tribune.com
QT SPOTLIGHT ON LIBYA
POPULAR REVOLUTION: People of Benghazi celebrate the advancement of rebel forces into the Libyan capital Tripoli to end the 40-year rule of Moamer Qadhafi, on Sunday. (AP)
Full of euphoria, expats hope for unity
& democracy in post-Qadhafi Libya
AFTER six months of fierce battle and high
casualties, the rebel fighters finally managed
to march into the Libyan capital,
Tripoli, on Sunday. They have taken over
more than 80 percent of Tripoli from
Moamer Qadhafi’s loyalists and government
forces. Heavy fighting is taking place in the capital
around the compound of the embattled Libyan
leader as jubilant crowds gathered in the famous
central Green Square, previously the scene of pro-
Qadhafi demonstrations. Reports suggest that two
of Qadhafi’s sons have been arrested and state TV
has also gone off the air. There have been further
defections into the rebel camp as well. As the world
anxiously watches the fall of the four-decade old
tyrannical regime, there are widespread concerns
over the enormous task the rebel camp needs to
perform in the post-Qadhafi period. Bringing the
country together and introducing the tenets of freedom
and democracy in a diverse country like Libya
could be equally challenging and arduous. But, for
now, the people of Libya are happy to see Qadhafi’s
41-year rule near its end. Qatar Tribune’s
Mohamed Khoulaidi and Aisha Sidahmed
spoke to some Arab expatriates to ascertain their
views on the beginning of the end of North Africa’s
oldest serving dictator. Excerpts:
FULL CREDIT TO REBEL LEADERS AND
NATO FOR DECISIVE PUSH DURING RAMADAN
Mohamed Abdulla
Bahraini national
I was surprised to
watch the jubilant
scenes on the
streets of Tripoli on
Sunday. After six
months of fierce
civil war, which
could have gone
either way, things
have suddenly and
sharply tilted in
favour of the rebel
fighters who are
now on the threshold
of victory. The
battle for Tripoli was not as long and bloody as analysts
had expected. It was a big relief to see Libyan
opposition forces celebrate on the famous Green
Square which has now been renamed Martyrs
Square by the rebel fighters. Full credit goes to the
rebel leaders and the NATO for giving the final push
during the Holy Month of Ramadan and the element
of surprise which has made the government
forces to retreat from the smaller towns on the outskirts
of the capital.
However, we must not forget that there are still
pockets of resistance in and around Tripoli as
Qadhafi’s loyalists continue to put up a fight.
Qadhafi’s whereabouts also remain unclear. There
were some news reports about leaders from the old
regime fleeing to Tunisia. If the reports are true, the
Tunisian government should capture these leaders
and return them to Libya so that they meet justice
for their crimes against ordinary Libyans. I am
happy that Qadhafi’s son and heir apparent Seif al-
Islam has been captured.
END GAME: Libyan leader Moamer Qadhafi. (AP)
‘NEW LIBYA’ SHOULD BE BUILT
ON FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY
Abdelati G
Libyan national
The situation in Libya is very delicate. The regime
has started falling apart. Libyan leader Moamer
Qadhafi has realised that he cannot
win the battle against his own people.
So, he has kept on urging his
followers to fight against the NATO
and the rebel forces and make a
final stand in Tripoli. But, the people
of Libya believe they can now emulate the revolutionary
gains of their two neighbouring countries
— Tunisia and Egypt.
The post-Qadhafi period won’t be easy at all. Look
at Tunisia and Egypt. The political process hasn’t
moved forward in the two countries. It will take time
and the people need to stay united and be patient.
Yet, the fall of Tripoli will be a great news for the
people of Libya. They have been fighting since
February and have had enough of the dictator.
Qadhafi has ruled for more than 41 years. It is also
hard to believe that his regime is finally crumbling
and that the rebels have seized the majority of the
capital city and two of his sons, including the heir
apparent Seif al-Islam, have been arrested. The
Libyan people, now for the first time in four decades,
can dream of a better future. It is time for the new
generation to create a better future for themselves
and for the country. The ‘New Libya’ should be
built on freedom and democracy.
VICTORY IS IN SIGHT IN THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN
Huda Asili
Moroccan national
After six months of long and bloody fighting, the
rebels have made important advances into Tripoli
Readers’
QT Speakup
from three directions. Surprisingly, they didn’t meet
fierce resistance and have moved into the city centre
unopposed. But, Qadhafi has promised of a final
battle. He has his loyalist in several pockets of the
city and they will fight till their leader is captured or
killed. We were extremely pleased to hear that
rebels have captured Qadhafi’s
son Seif al-Islam. Rebels also
claimed to have accepted the surrender
of his second son,
Mohammed. The same day, the
rebel forces took over 80 percent
of the capital and they have surrounded Bab al-
Aziziya. The Libyan people are happy that the victory
is now in sight, especially in the Holy Month of
Ramadan.
WITNESSING THE FINAL ACTS OF THE
FOUR-DECADE OLD REGIME
Phoebe Griffin
British national
The decades of tyranny under Moamer Qadhafi
appears to be nearing its end. Rebel fighters have
seized most of the country and are now in Tripoli.
We are witnessing the final acts of the four-decade
regime. After six months of conflict and bloodshed,
the rebels expected the end of the regime within
Ramadan. The NTC has been preparing for the
assault for the past few months. The arrogance displayed
by Qadhafi, his family and his henchmen
was built on years of extortion and corruption that
put the country’s wealth into the pockets of the few.
Libyans need to learn from the mistakes made in
countries like Iraq if they want to transform their
country into a model democracy. In this regard, it
is encouraging that the NTC has already spoken of
its post-Qadhafi plan, which would include the
establishment of a constitutional authority and
globally monitored elections. It also needs to
eschew notions of sectarianism, the religious and
political differences. Yet, the rebels are not a
homogenous bunch. They comprise of myriad
political groups and the country they will soon take
over will have many influential people who are
sympathetic to the old regime. Some of them would
try to keep the Western governments away from
post-Qadhafi Libya.
PEOPLE HAVE STARTED CELEBRATING
THE BEGINNING OF THE END
Jawad Ali
Moroccan national
We are witnessing the end of a tyrant’s regime.
Thousands of residents have poured into the streets
of Tripoli to welcome the rebel fighters congregating
at the Green Square which they have now renamed
as Martyrs Square. Jubilant crowds, with many people
waving the red, black and green flag of anti-government
forces, danced with joy and disbelief. Some
fired bullets into the air as a sign of victory. Similar
scenes of jubilation were witnessed in Benghazi,
where tens of thousands of delirious residents
danced and celebrated the beginning of the end of
the four-decade old regime.
LIBYANS STOOD UP AND FOUGHT
FOR THEIR FREEDOM & RIGHTS
Mariem Attiya
Tunisian national
I was overwhelmed with joy to watch the Libyan
rebel fighters streaming into Tripoli on Sunday.
They took control of over 80 percent of Tripoli in a
very short time. The Libyans are now free after six
months of bloodshed and fighting. Qadhafi will
soon have to go. Two of his sons are already in the
custody of the rebel forces. There is a lesson we
must all draw from the rebels’ victory. Perseverance
and belief is the key to success, and we must not lose
hope. And the will of people is above all governments.
I was awake the entire night watching the
people celebrating on the streets of Tripoli. This is
really a historic week and we should be happy that
Libyans have been able to stand up and fight for
their freedom and rights, literally.
TRIPOLI HAS COME BACK TO LIFE AGAIN
Abdulrahman Gamil
Algerian national
Rebel fighters have taken control of most of the
Libyan capital. Tripoli has come back to life again.
Internet services are being restored, freedom of
press has returned, people are celebrating on the
streets and the rule of the tyrant will finally be over.
I hope the coming months would usher peace, stability,
freedom and real democracy in Libya. The end of
Qadhafi’s rule will be widely welcomed by the entire
global community as well.
There are some people who still believe that the
battle for Libya is not over as yet. We must wait till
Qadhafi is captured or killed. But, I think they are
wrong. Qadhafi has been part of history ever since
his grip started slipping in cities like Brega and
Zlitan and his once trusted aides and government
leaders defected to the rebel camp. It is only a matter
of time before he surrenders. Those protecting
him will soon realise that the end has truly come.