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Mai leaves for US to receive 'Glamour' award

     Washington: Former US president Bill Clinton will present the "Glamour Women of the Year Award" to Pakistani gang rape victim Mukhtaran Mai, who attracted immense media attention after she resolved to fight against her culprits in the traditional Pakistani society. The award has been instituted by US-based magazine "Glamour". Mai will stay from Oct 22 to Nov 5. The award-giving ceremony will be held at Lincoln Centre in the New York City, reported The News. Meanwhile, Mai yesterday left for the US on Saturday to receive the award. She said she had no plans to stay in America. "I am a born Pakistani and prefer to live in my own country ... I am going to America to receive my award and will get back soon after," the paper quoted her as saying. She added that she would use the trip to collect donations for victims of this month's monster earthquake that killed tens of thousands of people in Pakistan. Mukhtaran braved social stigma by going public over her June 2002 assault, which was ordered by a village council in retaliation for her brother's alleged affair with a woman from a higher-caste family. Her case attracted international attention, and using donations from well-wishers, she has since set up a school for girls in her rural community. The legal case against her alleged attackers is still being heard in the Supreme Court. Past winners of the award include US Sen Hillary Clinton and former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.