Khwaja Asif’s assessment
The PML-N’s Khwaja Asif, according to Daily Dunya (28 January 2019), is of the opinion that PM Imran Khan’s politics is based on lies, abuses and thuggish behaviour (jhoot, gaali aur ghunda-gardi). He further expressed his view that the PM’s talk was all about the early Islamic era, but his actions were closer to those of Abu Jahl.
Spanner in the works
The PTI’s Shafqat Mahmood, according to Daily Jang (28 January 2019), expressed his disappointment with the role of the opposition in Parliament. He opined that corrupt leaders do not want PM Imran Khan’s government to last, but that the PTI would take on all such conspiracies and fulfill the term for which it got a mandate.
Things are looking up
PM Imran Khan was quoted by Daily Jang (28 January 2019) as saying that big companies which had left Pakistan due to corruption were now starting to return to the country. He went on to state that he was not allowed to speak in Parliament, but that he would take the opportunity to say that the Chief Minister of Punjab was not there to make money, build sugar mills, make his sons billionaires or promote relatives.
Finally?
President Zardari was quoted by Daily Dunya (29 January 2019) as saying that now that Chief Justice Saqib Nisar was retired, there was hope that everything would be alright (sab theek honay ki umeed hai). The former president opined that whatever had been going on before, it was at the behest of someone else (jo ho raha tha woh kisi ke kehnay pe ho raha tha).
Forward!
Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar, according to Daily Jang (29 January 2019), predicted that those who are making a noise will be left behind (shor machanay waalay peechay rehh jaein ge) and that PM Imran Khan’s Naya Pakistan would advance forward despite it all.
Party-crasher
PML-N leader Tehmina Daultana, according to Daily Dunya (30 January 2019), claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had arrived to attend the wedding of the granddaughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the Raiwind residence in Lahore without being invited (Modi Raiwind bin bulaye aaye thay). She went on to note that if relations are good, people come without being invited.
All in one month
Daily Express (01 February 2019) quoted representatives for the Afghan Taliban as saying that they could wipe out Da’esh (the Islamic State group) within a month – and that the latter organization would be no threat to peace in Afghanistan if US forces were to leave the country.
Chohan in action
The PTI’s Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, according to Daily Express (02 February 2019), advised Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal to focus more on accounting for “looting” Sindh (Sindh mein loot-maar ka hisaab dein) rather than criticizing Usman Buzdar.
How to do Public Accounts…
Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed was quoted by Daily Express (03 February 2019) as saying that Nawaz Sharif had not even spared Osama bin Laden’s wealth, and that PM Imran Khan had made a great mistake by appointing Shehbaz Sharif the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.