Punjabi people | GlobalPost

Bollywood bad boy Dutt held in 'terrorist' jail cell

Agence France-PresseMay 18, 2013 07:15

Bollywood superstar Sanjay Dutt, who is in jail for arms possession, is being held in a cell built for militants where he cannot see daylight and wants to be transferred, a report said Saturday. Dutt, 53, surrendered on Thursday to serve out the remaining three-and-a-half years of a five-year term in a case linked to deadly 1993 Mumbai bombings. Dutt's lawyer, Rizwan Merchant, has demanded the transfer of the actor whom he said was being kept in the cell once occupied by Mumbai attacks gunman Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, according to the Indian Express daily newspaper.

Bollywood bad boy Dutt heads to jail over guns case

Agence France-PresseMay 16, 2013 07:01

Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt surrendered Thursday to serve three-and-a-half years in jail for illegal possession of weapons, in a case linked to deadly bombings in Mumbai 20 years ago. Accompanied by family and friends, the 53-year-old was greeted by a crowd of journalists at the gates of his home before travelling in a convoy of cars to a court in the city's south, where another huge crowd swarmed around his vehicle.

Pakistan's Bhatti to speak at Vatican gathering

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 14:25

Pakistani religious freedom advocate Paul Bhatti, the brother of assassinated government minister Shahbaz Bhatti, will speak in front of Pope Francis and some 120,000 members of new Catholic religious movements on Saturday, the Vatican said. The international gathering is part of the Catholic Church's drive to inspire a "new evangelisation" forged by the pope's predecessor Benedict XVI and it is timed to coincide with Pentecost, the feast of the Holy Spirit.

Cricket: Pakistan face dual test in Champions Trophy

Agence France-PresseMay 13, 2013 07:46

Pakistan's cricket squad fly to Britain early Tuesday, seeking to win next month's Champions Trophy and avoid any repetition of the scandal that marred their last British tour in 2010. The spot-fixing scandal, disclosed by the now defunct News of the World, was related to the deliberate bowling of no-balls in return for money during the Lord's Test against England. It resulted in bans on then-captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer as well as jail terms for the trio and their agent Mazhar Majeed.

India court rejects Bollywood star's jail plea

Agence France-PresseMay 11, 2013 18:18

India's highest court Friday rejected a plea by Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt to review his conviction and five-year jail term for possessing arms supplied by plotters of the deadly 1993 Mumbai blasts. The muscular, tattooed 53-year-old was convicted by an anti-terrorism court in 2006 but was freed on bail after serving 18 months in prison. In March, the Supreme Court upheld Dutt's conviction but cut his jail term to five years from six. He now has to serve the remaining three-and-a-half-years of his term.

India demands justice as 'spy' dies in Pakistan

Agence France-PresseMay 2, 2013 11:45

An Indian man on death row in Pakistan for spying died on Thursday nearly a week after he was attacked by fellow prisoners, who were swiftly charged with murder as New Delhi demanded justice. Sarabjit Singh, who was sentenced 16 years ago over deadly bombings, died in the early hours as a result of the savage assault in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail, a senior doctor at Jinnah hospital in the eastern city told AFP.

Cricket: Trent who? Pakistan baffled by new batting coach

Agence France-PresseMay 1, 2013 05:45

Pakistan's appointment of Trent Woodhill as batting coach for next month's Champions Trophy has been met with bafflement, with former greats saying they had never even heard of the Australian. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Monday appointed the 42-year-old Woodhill for three weeks after the team's disastrous performance with the bat on their recent tour of South Africa. Woodhill is currently assistant coach at Delhi Daredevils, second bottom in the Indian Premier League, and has had previous spells with New Zealand and New South Wales.

Pakistan polls will strengthen democracy: army chief

Agence France-PresseApril 30, 2013 15:16

Pakistan's army chief said Tuesday that general elections scheduled for May would be held on time and help cement democracy in a country that has seen military rule for half its history. The polls are due to mark the first democratic transition of power after a civilian government has served a full, five-year term with the last period of dictatorship ending in 2008.

Bollywood dynasties keep it in the family

Agence France-PresseApril 30, 2013 01:45

As Indian cinema turns 100 years old, one powerful Bollywood dynasty can trace the roots of their stardom almost right back to the birth of the national film industry. "We have been there throughout. All the milestones of cinema, there has been some Kapoor or the other," says 60-year-old Rishi Kapoor, who has notched up nearly 150 Hindi film credits over a four-decade acting career.

Cricket: Pakistan appoint Australian Woodhill batting coach

Agence France-PresseApril 29, 2013 15:16

Pakistan on Monday appointed Australian coach Trent Woodhill to help solve their perennial batting problems during June's Champions Trophy in England. The 42-year-old was involved with the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League in Australia and is part of the Delhi Daredevils' support staff in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). He was also New Zealand cricket team's assistant until last year. Pakistan Cricket Board's director of international cricket Intikhab Alam said Woodhill brings rich experience as a batting and fielding expert.