Beware bangles
According to Daily Dunya (12 February 2018), a fatwa from the Dar-ul-Uloom Deoband in India took the view that for women to have bangles put on by the hands of unrelated men (ghair mard) is contrary to the Shariah.
Rendezvous
It was reported by Daily Jang (12 February 2018) that police in Jacobabad arrested six individuals for attempting to lure a man using the voice of a woman and then kidnap him. The would-be kidnappers spoke in a woman’s voice on the phone, asking the individual to come to the bypass if he wished to meet. He went there with his three companions (azizon ke saath), only to be confronted by a gang of six criminals. The intended victims were able to flee and alert the police, who arrested all six criminals.
Explanation called for
According to Daily Dunya (12 February 2018), the Superintendent Deputy Comissioner’s Office focal person for theatres has asked three stage actresses and three theatre managers to present themselves and offer an explanation for the behaviour displayed on stage by the said actresses. The report stated that they had allegedly made lewd gestures (ghalat isharay aur fohsh harkaat) to the audience from the stage.
Alert
Pir Hameeduddin Sialvi, according to Daily Dunya (12 February 2018) was quoted as saying that there was an effort (tehreek) underway to buy out ulema.
Facing the music
Daily Dunya (12 February 2018) reported that authorities in Nankana Sahib booked two rickshaw drivers for listening to music loudly under the Sound System Act.
Diktat?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quoted by Daily Dunya (12 February 2018) as saying that Iran would not be permitted to build a military base in any Arab country.
Clarification
Daily Jang (12 February 2018) reported that Sheikh Abdullah al-Mutlaq, from the Council of Senior Scholars in Saudi Arabia, clarified his view as expressed in a previous fatwa to the effect that abaya is ‘not compulsory’ for Muslim women. He explained that this fatwa was not an invitation to do away with purdah.
Third time’s the charm?
Abid Sher Ali was quoted by Daily Dunya (13 February 2018) as saying that Imran Khan had gotten run out twice already, and that this would happen again a third time.
TuQ on dictatorship
Tahir-ul-Qadri, according to Daily Jang (14 February 2018) is of the view that a civilian dictatorship has a stranglehold over the whole system (bey-wardi civil aamriat ne pooray nizam ko jakkar rakha hai).
Forbidden
Daily Express (15 February 2018) reported that despite the prohibition on marking Valentine’s Day, celebrations proceeded in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. The report quoted ‘sources’ as saying that those hosting parties had arranged for security and also required guests to provide a special code for entry into the parties.
Taking a stand for women?
Daily Express (18 February 2018) quoted the Jamaat-e-Islami’s Siraj-ul-Haq as saying that in order to empower women, all the rights promised to them by Islam had to be given to them. He went on to opine that the Candle Mafia (Mom Batti Mafia), at the behest of Western NGOs, wanted to take women out of their homes under the guise of rights – and in doing so, to deprive them of ‘chaadar aur chaar-deewari’ (seclusion).