1. Email: gdnnews@batelco.com.bh
gdn1@batelco.com.bh
Gulf Daily News
Tuesday, 16th February 2010 7
H
ow distressing it
is to lose a pet hit
home last week
when our 18-month dog
Knocked out by Tyson’s homecoming
being away for just a few minutes. soles of his paws have worn out like an
it was Tyson that
she had seen
just 10 minutes
earlier, curled up
in the corner of a
Tyson, apparently scared
We checked out every lead we got and in the old shoe, revealing bloodied flesh in a few roadside garden strip.
out of his wits by traffic, wriggled out of Once we reached the spot in Mahooz, there
his harness and bolted. process became familiar with every nook places.
and cranny of certain areas. I remember the vet telling us when he was he was, trembling out of cold and fear,
He was found nearly 60 hours later, thanks to with the lady and her husband standing by
a caring couple who happened to read an So frequent were our sojourns that we much smaller: “He is a desert dog and
became known to every would enjoy walking for his side, keeping watch over him.
advertisement in the previous day’s GDN His wounds are healing, but he still moans in
and secured him until we arrived. watchman, cold store miles”.
attendant, restaurant Well, miles he did walk during his sleep and wakes up with a shudder and
We had spent many distressing hours
searching and putting up posters all over
where we thought he could be, with a
worker and car cleaner,
among others, who would
ANOTHER his days astray, but I am sure
he did not enjoy.
fear on his face, but I know he will be back
to normal in a few days.
I also know I will still get irritated when
nagging fear that he may have come to
harm – a feeling that left us all feeling
spot us looking underneath
cars, inside construction
sites and even in people’s
VIEW... The relief on our faces when
we found him we could not
see, but I was amazed at the
he jumps all over me at the door every
evening.
empty. By MANDEEP SINGH I will complain and threaten to leave him
All we could do was to follow tip-offs from garages, as well as peeping delight on the faces of the
over compound walls. couple who found him, when at the Tree of Life, when I catch him
readers who thought they had seen him, in stretched out on my bed.
Manama, Ghufool, Juffair, Mahooz and Zinj A ‘Tyson Fans’ Facebook group generated they witnessed what was an emotional
close to 150 members in two days with reunion for us and Tyson. I know I will shout when he chews up
and even as far away as Hidd. valuable things, carelessly left around by
As we searched, we couldn’t help reflecting many offering time, asking questions and That the charming lady had seen the
volunteering to help find him. advertisement while she was flipping my teenage children.
on Tyson’s irritating habits and peculiar But now I also know he is as much a
mannerisms, but what we missed most Our life is now normal. Finally the ordeal is through the classified pages of the
over and we are relieved, though Tyson previous day’s GDN was fate playing a member of the family as any of us. We
was his absolute insistence at literally need him more than he needs us. He
mauling with affection any member of has not emerged unscathed. kind hand.
One of his toe nails has been broken and the She said she saw the picture and realised completes our family.
the family who returned home, even after mandeep@gdn.com.bh
Medical expert
testifies over
man’s death
A MEDICAL examiner took
the stand yesterday in the case
of a Bahraini accused of man-
slaughter.
The suspect is standing trial
at the High Criminal Court for
causing the death of Pakistani
Maqbool Ahmed Hassan.
The 39-year-old defendant
allegedly attacked the electri-
n Mohammed cian during an argument over
with the unfinished work at his home
T-shirt last July. Mr Hassan suffered
a heart attack a few hours later
on his way to the police station
for an unconnected matter.
Defence lawyer Fatima Al
CONTROVERSY over By MohaMMed al garf lot of bad feelings towards Hawaj questioned the theory that
the latest Bollywood Indian Muslims. Even the victim could have died due to
blockbuster has spilled sage,” said Mohammed. though India is a secular heart complications as a result
“We should support him country where every citi- of anger following the attack.
over to Bahrain, where “The victim suffered heart
throughout this time of trouble. zen has the right to follow
one man is hoping to rally “I hope that a lot of Khans their own religion, there is complications and it is possible
support for beleaguered order the T-shirts and we can currently a lot of bias. that he died due to stress, possi-
star Shahrukh Khan. all attend the opening wearing “I believe this controver- bly anger following the attack,”
The film My Name Is them.” sy is fuelled by extremism said the medical examiner.
Khan has attracted unwant- “However, I rule out the pos-
The 14-year-old Indian got and some people don’t like sibility that he died due to pos-
ed publicity after its lead- the idea after seeing other sup- it that the most popular and
ing man suggested Pakistani sible fear of being arrested by
porters wearing similar T-shirts highest paid Indian actor police.”
cricketers should be drafted at film screenings in India. is a Muslim. They want The case was adjourned to
to play in Indian teams. It is his response to calls by to keep him away from March 21 to summon witnesses
Now his namesake in the Shiv Sena political party the industry. This is why and for the defence lawyer to
Bahrain, Mohammed Sonnet to boycott both the film and we need to support him submit her papers.
Khan, is spearheading a the actor. The party is also and his right to express his
campaign on his behalf and demanding an apology after opinions freely.”
is calling on every other accusing the actor of insulting The film opens in Bahrain on
Khan in the country to put Mumbai – the site of a co- Thursday at the Awal Cinema,
their name into the hat. ordinated 2008 terrorist attack Seef Mall and Bahrain City
He is printing T-shirts fea- allegedly executed by a group Centre. T-shirts will be avail-
turing the words “My Name of Pakistan-based terrorists. able in black and red and cost
Is Khan”, but will only sell “This controversy is basically around BD1.5 each.
them to anyone who can Shiv Sena’s attempt at political However, people have to
prove their name is Khan. manipulation,” said Mohammed. present their official identifica-
“Shahrukh Khan is a real- “Sharukh is entitled to his tion to prove their surname is
ly great actor and the movie own views and freedom of Khan. Contact Mohammed on
has a very important mes- expression. Also, it is causing a 36769646 for more information.
Shura divided over law
SHURA Council members were yesterday split over By MohaMMed al a’ali
whether to force companies with more than 50 workers
to provide them with social, cultural and entertainment sion, so councillors could vote on the law.
programmes and activities. The council has already blocked some articles of
It was among the new 198-article Private Sector Law the bill proposed by MPs, including increased time off
being reviewed by the council at its weekly meeting. for mothers working in the private sector and forcing
Under article 177, companies will have to co- employers to pay all legal costs if their staff take them
ordinate with their labour unions to come up with to court for malice.
programmes and activities for workers. If Parliament and the Shura Council cannot agree on
Some councillors criticised the Parliament-inserted articles in the law then the bill could be scrapped altogether.
article, saying that it was unfair as other companies Under other articles approved yesterday, employers
with workers below that number were not obliged to who don’t change their status to be in line with the new
provide such services. They also stressed that the serv- law will be fined between BD200 and BD500.
ices were general in the bill, without a clear definition Contracts signed under the current law will have
on what should be offered. to be changed to include the new benefits granted to
Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi said that the employees under the new law. If the new law gives less
programmes and activities would allow employees to feel benefits to employees in their current deals, then new
more comfortable and productive in an establishment. contracts according to the new law have to be made.
He said that on the issue over the number of employ- Those who don’t fulfil safety and health standards
ees for the law to be applicable, it could be clarified at their establishment could face jail sentences up to
when they meet with the services committee as they three months, fined between BD500 and BD1,000, or
finalise nine other pending articles. both. In case the employer violates the law again, the
The 10 articles will be presented at next week’s ses- punishment will be double.