Beyond them?
Daily Jang (22 July 2019) informed its readers that in the ongoing NAB investigation into the LNG terminal case, Miftah Ismail’s answers to the accountability bureau were like playing music for a buffalo (bhens ke aagay been bajana). The report claimed that the Bureau appeared to lack the technical know-how to understand Ismail’s responses.
Joy
Murad Saeed of the PTI, according to Daily Express (23 July 2019), claimed that the corruption and pursuit of self-interest of previous leaders had caused Pakistan to bow its head in shame, but that due to PM Imran Khan, the joy of overseas Pakistanis was a sight to behold.
Little to lose?
Asif Ali Zardari of the PPP, according to Daily Jang (23 July 2019), asked that PM Imran Khan be told that he was accustomed to staying in barracks (hum barrackon mein rehnay ke aadi hein) and that money did not grow on trees for it to be simply given to the government. He also stated that the government had given him no facilities in jail that it could take away.
Facilities
Daily Jang (24 July 2019) reported that former PM Nawaz Sharif had been granted class B facilities in jail, which included an air conditioner, television, newspapers, table, chairs and the possibility of home-cooked food. The report went on to state that PM Imran Khan had informed his supporters in a rally during his US trip that on his return to Pakistan, he would remove the AC and TV from Sharif’s cell.
Press freedom
PM Imran Khan was quoted by Daily Jang (24 July 2019) as having said during his tour of the US that the Pakistani media was more free than that of Britain. He emphasized his view that there was no censorship in Pakistan and that the watchdog role of the media would be strengthened under his administration.
Ahsan Iqbal’s assessment
Ahsan Iqbal of the PML-N, according to Daily Jang (25 July 2019), expressed his view that PM Imran Khan was moving from being the Gorbachev of Pakistan to becoming its Hitler.
Bureaucracy’s woes
Daily Dunya (26 July 2019) quoted Sheikh Rasheed as saying that the bureaucracy was worried. In his view, bureaucrats had lifted up their hands and were now hesitant to sign documents. He promised to speak to the PM about the bureaucracy’s worries.
Change
Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar, according to Daily Express (26 July 2019), stated that the 25th of July 2018 saw a positive change in Pakistan’s political situation, and that an aware populace (ba-shaoor awam) had, through the strength of its votes, shattered the idols of corruption (corruption ke but’on ko paash paash kar diya).
Interstellar
Daily Express (26 July 2019) reported that Fawad Chaudhry announced that the first Pakistani astronaut would go to space by 2022.
Birthday bash
According to Daily Dunya (27 July 2019), the People’s Lawyers Forum organized a cake-cutting in honour of Asif Ali Zardari’s 64th birthday, party loyalists attacked the cake (jialay cake pe toot parray) and senior lawyers had to intervene to quell the ensuing pushing and scuffling.