IG praises traffic cop for stopping him
Reported in Dunya (April 25, 2015) a traffic warden in Lahore pulled over the inspector general of railway police when he jumped a red light. Although he introduced himself, the cop told him politely that he had violated the traffic signal and will be fined. The IG wrote a commendatory letter for him to the Chief Traffic Officer, and also sent Rs 5,000 as a prize.
17 voters in entire constituency
Express reports (April 26, 2015) a Cantonment Board election constituency in Abbottabad has only 17 voters. The candidates are happy they did not have to spend too much on their election campaigns.
Bridegroom flees wedding procession to vote
According to Jang (April 26, 2015) a bridegroom in Lahore left his wedding procession to go and vote in the Cantonment Board elections. His family tried to stop him but he did not listen, and chanted slogans in favor of Imran Khan.
No salaries in 11 months: policemen
Dunya reports (April 27, 2015) police guards at PPP’s public meeting in Lyari were seen buying cold drinks from carts. Asked why they hadn’t been given food and water by their department, they said they hadn’t even been paid their salaries in 11 months.
Suicide averted because train was late
According to Nawa-e-Waqt (April 27, 2015) a woman who wanted to commit suicide on a railway track in Chichawatni was saved because the train was late. People were able to reach the site before the train arrived and stopped her.
11-year-old madrassa runaway confuses police
Reported in Express (April 28, 2015) when police stopped an 11-year-old boy roaming alone in Multan late at night, he said he had placed a suicide attack vest and a bomb outside a school. Police found nothing at the site after a nightlong search operation. The boy said he had been abducted from Kamaliya and had been forced to plant the bomb. When police contacted his family, he turned out to be a runaway madrassa student who had made up the story so he wouldn’t be sent back home, where he was beaten.
Lahore police wear worn-out uniforms
More than 5,000 policemen in Lahore wear worn out uniforms because they haven’t been given a new uniform in five years, reports Nai Baat (April 28). The department is expected to give out three uniforms a year. Police officers say they cannot do that because of a lack of funds.
Fisticuffs at PPP press conference
A press conference of two former prime ministers belonging to the PPP in Peshawar was ruined when party workers began to fight with each other (gutham gutha), reports Nawa-e-Waqt (April 29, 2015). The fight began after an outburst by one worker, who was critical of Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. Other workers reacted and there was a fight (hatha pai). The angry worker was thrown out of the venue.
‘Cricket tragedy could be averted if shops opened at 9’
Quoted in Jang (April 30, 2015) Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore would not have been possible if the shopkeepers in Liberty Market would shut down on time the night before, and open again at 9 in the morning.
Nuggets from journalism exam
According to Dunya (April 30, 2015) students who took BA exams in journalism seem to know very little about the subject. Some said radios run pictures, while others said television could help the deafblind, and yet others said the editorial is on the front page of the newspaper.
Psychologist will help traffic police stay polite
Reported in Nai Baat (April 30, 2015) the traffic police department in Lahore has sought the services of a psychologist to ensure that the wardens are friendly and polite when they are controlling traffic.
11 votes for the win
A candidate in the Cantonment Board elections in Murree became a councilor with only 11 votes, reports Nawa-e-Waqt (April 30, 2015). The runner-up, from the PTI, bagged five votes.