Lahori thrills
Daily Dunya (21 May 2018) reported that incidents of one-wheeling and motorcycle racing by young men continued throughout Lahore, in some cases resulting in injuries for those involved. Near Firdous Market, dozens of motorcycles participated in races with police and traffic wardens looking on without intervening.
Precautions
Daily Jang (21 May 2018) reported that Pakistani airports had imposed strict checks on travelers going to Iraq, especially those wearing shalwar-qameez, so as to prevent them from carrying naswar with them. This action is being taken after the Pakistani embassy in Baghdad informed Pakistani authorities that airport officials in Iraq had taken several Pakistanis into custody for carrying naswar – which the Iraqi officials feared was suspicious since it resembled prohibited narcotic substances. This led to Pakistani travelers to Iraq being held in captivity for the duration of their visit visas as the authorities couldn’t easily find a laboratory which could examine the confiscated substances. Reporting of these incidents in the Iraqi media had led to bad publicity for Pakistanis.
Diplomacy
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was quoted by Daily Jang (21 May 2018) as warning Iran that if it did not change its attitude, the United States would crush it (kuchal de ga) with economic sanctions and pressure.
Wardrobe woes
According to Daily Dunya (21 May 2018), the Logistics Branch of the Punjab Police had finalised five firms for supplying cloth for new uniforms. The report further stated that the firms selected include two which supplied substandard cloth for the current olive-green uniform of the police force.
Learning curve
Imran Khan was quoted by Daily Jang (23 May 2018) as saying that in 1997, when he contested his first elections, he did not understand how it worked. He had thought that if new candidates came to the front, the public would come out and vote for them, based on what he saw in England. He further stated that if he had been contesting elections in England rather than in Pakistan, he would have won.
How to get famous in America
Daily Jang (23 May 2018), reported that during Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s visit to the US in February, his party had paid around $ 100,000 for a month to a Washington lobbying firm – so as to arrange meetings and media interviews for him.
Promises
According to Daily Jang (23 May 2018), the PPP expressed its view that Imran Khan’s 100-day program was like a Sheikh Chilli tale – and that previously too, he had offered a 90-day agenda which could not be fulfilled in even five years. Moreover, the PPP took the view that Khan had managed to gather 100 lotay in 50 days, and he now had those of every size and colour.
Entertainment and protectionism
Daily Nawa-i-Waqt (25 May 2018) reported that the federal government had banned the display of Indian films on Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha. The report stated that the screening of Indian films will be banned from two days before the Eid to until two weeks after the holidays – so as to promote the local film industry.
Perils of selling milk
A milk seller from Lahore, according to Daily Express (26 May 2018), approached court for justice after alleged mistreatment at the hands of a policeman. The said policeman owed the milk seller some Rs. 30,000 for milk, but when asked for payment, had subjected him to violence. Two constables even planted hashish (chars) on the milk seller and then locked him up – demanding Rs. 30,000 from him as a bribe to set him free.
Sheikh Rasheed’s opponents
Sheikh Rasheed was quoted by Daily Express (26 May 2018) as saying that Nawaz Sharif operated on the instructions of India, and that in the upcoming elections, the people would reject RAW agents.
Patience
Daily Nawa-i-Waqt (27 May 2018) reported that the Sindh High Court took steps to address the grievances of a man who had been seeking justice for 50 years. He was denied a promotion that he was due for in 1967. This was not granted to him even until his retirement in 1986 – since which time he had been looking for justice.