Unclegate continues…
Daily Jang (07 Nov 2016) quoted Ayaz Sadiq, speaker of the National Assembly, as saying that Imran Khan should not be offended by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari referring to him as “chacha” [uncle], since this was done out of respect. He reminded the PTI leader that they were at a suitable age for being referred to as “chacha” and “maamoon” [paternal and maternal uncles].
Game over
It was reported by Daily Jang (07 Nov 2016) that police in the Sanda area of Lahore arrested seven children for playing billiard and registered a case for gambling against them. After protests by the parents of the children, police officials stated that if, after an enquiry into the situation, it was found that the police had acted wrongly, some action would then be taken.
Magic?
Daily Dunya (07 Nov 2016) quoted leaders addressing a conference of the Difa e Pakistan Council as saying that if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were to render concrete assistance to the Kashmiri struggle, he would be rid of (jaan chutt jaye gi) the protest movements (dharna) and Panama Leaks uproar.
Bored bureaucrats?
Daily Dunya reported (07 Nov 2016) that the bureaucracy in Punjab had become weary of meetings called by senior government figures and began to go out after sitting for a few minutes. At one meeting, the Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif took the bureaucrats to task, and asked if they attached no importance to meetings called by him. He asked what it was that the bureaucrats stepped out for. In response, the bureaucrats avoided his questions (aaeen baeen shaeen).
Sage advice
A civil judge in Lahore instructed a local man to spend his earnings on his children rather than on khwaja serahs. Daily Jang (09 Nov 2016) reported that the man’s son had taken him to court alleging that his father spends most of his time with khwaja serahs and most of his earnings go to them – a state of affairs that led his wife also to separate herself from him.
Bonding on the sidelines of Parliament
Daily Jang (10 Nov 2016) reported that an interesting exchange took place between Sheikh Rasheed and the opposition leader Syed Khurshid Shah in the corridors of Parliament. Sheikh Rasheed asked him why he didn’t abandon his objections to Imran Khan. He also added that he would respect Shah for the rest of his life if the opposition leader were to stop playing “centre forward” - neither here nor there. Shah responded that he was a politician, not a dishonourable person (bey-ghairat). To this, Sheikh Rasheed responded that Imran Khan was not dishonourable either. Khurshid Shah then said that people from the PML-N were nearby, and that he would speak to Sheikh Rasheed later in privacy, and wished to send Imran Khan a message through him.
Our saviour?
Daily Express (10 Nov 2016) quoted PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as saying that if in 2018, Pakistanis wanted to avoid the fate of America, they ought to support him. The report stated that he reached out to congratulate Donald Trump on his victory and consoled Hillary Clinton, expressing his hope that she would emerge stronger from the defeat.
Poor aunty?
Daily Dunya (11 Nov 2016) quoted Jamaat-e-Islami leader Siraj-ul-Haq as saying that the rulers were so distressed by Hillary Clinton’s presidential defeat, it was as if their own aunt (khaala) had lost.
Armageddon cannot be ruled out?
Daily Nawa-i-Waqt reported (11 Nov 2016) that Indian defence minister Manohar Parrikar denied that his country has a policy of “no first use” of nuclear weapons. He then went on to say that this should not mean that India would definitely use nuclear weapons. In the same interview, he then stated that the possibility of the use of nuclear weapons should not be ruled out either. He then said that it was best not to reveal one’s objectives. A spokesperson from the Defence Ministry soon after clarified that this was the Minister’s personal opinion and not official policy.
Discretion is the better part of valour?
It was reported by Daily Express (12 Nov 2016) that former President General (retd.) Pervez Musharraf stated that he was now in full health but that he was not returning to Pakistan due to the cases against him. He was quoted as saying that the courts are not doing their job properly and that he considers the proceedings against him to be in contravention of the Constitution.