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Cleric says 7 supporters killed in Pakistan clash

By WTOP Staff

ZAHEER BABAR
Associated Press

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Fighting between Pakistani security forces and supporters of a fiery anti-government cleric killed seven people as they were heading towards a planned demonstration in the city Lahore, the cleric claimed Saturday. Authorities have contested the cleric’s claim and put the death toll from clashes to two, including one police officer.

Cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri, who led anti-corruption protests in January 2013 that paralyzed Pakistan’s capital, has a network of mosques and religious centers across the country. His supporters briefly abducted six police officers in the fighting, which began Friday in Punjab province and continued into the next morning.

Supporters of the cleric had planned to hold a demonstration in Lahore on Sunday to protest the killing of 14 people in June during similar clashes and they were streaming towards the city from different directions when they encountered police roadblocks.

Qadri told reporters Saturday in Lahore that the clashes began when police opened fire on those coming for the protests and that seven of his supporters were killed and over a thousand wounded.

The government has dismissed his claim saying only one of Qadri’s supporters and a police officer were killed in the clashes.

Rana Mashood, the provincial minister of Punjab, said the fighting began when Qadri’s people tried to remove shipping containers being used as roadblocks, prompting police to fire tear gas.

Some 55 officers were wounded in the fighting, with one killed in clashes in Gujranwala district and one of Qadri’s supporters killed in Multan district, said Mashood, adding that 500 people were arrested.

Some eight police and private vehicles were set on fire in Sargodha when police tried to stop the crowds from crossing the barricades, he said.

Qadri asked his supporters to give up their efforts to reach to Lahore and instead directed them to hold protest rallies in their own areas.

Qadri struck a chord with people last year by attacking the state’s inability to solve problems such as poor electricity and unemployment. But his demand that the government be dissolved and replaced by a military-backed caretaker administration raised concerns that he was being used by the nation’s powerful army to delay parliamentary elections.

The cleric has denied having any connection to the army.

Authorities have placed shipping containers in the road around the capital, Islamabad, as well, ahead of a planned demonstration Thursday led by cricket star turned opposition politician Imran Khan, who is protesting alleged irregularities in the May 2013 elections in which his party came in third place.

In a bid to defuse the situation, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he was ready to negotiate with Khan over his demands for a recount of certain national assembly seats.

“In democracy, all issues can be resolved through dialogues and this is the beauty of democratic system,” Sharif said Saturday. “I am open to negotiate with Imran Khan.”

But Khan has remained defiant.

“We can meet after August 14 … our planned ‘Independence march’ to Islamabad will take place at all costs.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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