Statistically speaking
Daily Dunya (18 March 2019) quoted leaders of religious parties and ulema as saying that it was not a correct step to carry forward any crackdown on madrassahs, since the country was going through a sensitive time. They further noted that 80 percent of the country shared their religious views (mulk mein 80 feesad mazhabi tabqa hai) and that the patriotism of religious parties was beyond doubt.
Chowkidars unite
According to Daily Nawa-i-Waqt (19 March 2019), after slogans of “Chowkidar chor hai” (referring to PM Modi) were raised at a Rahul Gandhi rally, PM Narendra Modi himself adopted the social media tag “Chowkidar” for himself – and many BJP leaders followed suit.
Aviation feat?
It was reported by Daily Express (22 March 2019) that a PIA pilot named Omar Khayyam navigated a flight from Islamabad to Birmingham in a state of intoxication from alcohol. The PIA authorities have suspended the pilot and are investigating the matter further.
Learning curve
PM Imran Khan, according to Daily Nawa-i-Waqt (22 March 2019), once again vigorously defended Usman Buzdar as Chief Minister Punjab, saying that the latter was tightening his grip on matters of governance and administration.
Third time lucky?
It was reported by Daily Nawa-i-Waqt (22 March 2019) that the PPP’s Asif Ali Zardari had met Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman of the JUI(F) for the third time in a month and that both parties had agreed to give the government a “tough time” - both within parliament and outside it.
New standards?
According to Daily Dunya (23 March 2019), a fake Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for inspection of hotels had been issued by fraudulent elements (jal-sazon ki taraf se) – and that based on it, the Lahore police had stopped hotels from renting out rooms. Later, the DIG explained during a meeting with members of the Hotel Association that no such order had actually been issued.
Happiness
Daily Express (22 March 2019) informed its readers that even though we complain of various difficulties in everyday life, Pakistanis are the most happy people in South Asia according to the World Happiness Index of the UN. Furthermore, the daily states, Pakistanis ranked 67 in terms of happiness, whereas Indians ranked 140th – an indication of how the Indian people caught up in war hysteria were deprived of happiness (andaza lagaya ja sakta hai ke jangi junoon mein mubtala Bharat ke awam musarrat aur shadmani se kis qadar mehroom hein).
Warning!
Sheikh Rasheed, according to Daily Express (23 March 2019), is of the view that both Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are in the danger zone (khatarnak zone mein hein). He further expressed his view that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was promoting the perspective of Indian PM Modi.
Holding the line
Daily Jang (24 March 2019) reported that a gathering of ulema organized by the Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith in Lahore vowed to prevent Pakistan from becoming an irreligious state (la-deen riyasat).
Aloof
Malaysia’s PM Mahathir Mohamad was quoted by Daily Jang (24 March 2019) as saying that his country would not take sides in the dispute between India and Pakistan, since it did not wish for wars.