Stenographer hacks salary software
Reported in Dunya (April 1, 2015) a stenographer of the accountant general of Punjab stole the password of the salary software and embezzled hundreds of thousands of rupees with false entries. A court has sent him to jail for 14 years and fined him 5.4 million rupees.
The new sound of crowd control
According to Express (April 1, 2015) tired of frequent protests and sit-ins (tang aa kar) Lahore police has decided to buy two vehicles that will disperse crowds with sonic cannons (shoar).
Police and rescuers on their toes on April Fool’s day
Express reports (April 2, 2015) police and rescuers were on their toes (dorrain lagi raheen) because of fake warnings and reports on April Fool’s Day. Legal action was taken against 11 such prank callers.
Lawmakers break parking law
Traffic police impounded the cars of two members of Punjab Assembly for wrong parking, reports Dunya (April 3, 2015). The vehicles were returned without a fine after they apologized.
Ashamed of vulgar movie, actor Hamza Abbasi quits PTI
Quoted in Nai Baat (April 3, 2015) famous actor Hamza Ali Abbassi says he has resigned as the cultural secretary of Tehrik-e-Insaf because he is ashamed of acting in bold scenes (baybak manazir) for the film Jawani Phir Nahi Aani.
Failure is not an option?
In order to control the dropout rate in the schools of the province, the Punjab government has told the Punjab Examination Commission to promote students who scored more than 25 percent in the recent primary and middle school exams, Express reports (April 4, 2015). It is considering promoting all the students in government schools. More than 40 percent students had failed the exams.
Anti-terrorist cops run away during training
Reported in Nawa-e-Waqt (April 4, 2015) 30 recruits of the anti-terrorist force of police ran away during their training, because of early morning parades, running, and intense activity. The interior minister has taken stern note and ordered their removal from service.
Kidney con
Nai Baat reports (April 4, 2015) two immigration consultants promised three clients they would send them abroad for work after a medical examination. They were anesthetized for the exam. When they woke up, their kidneys were missing. FIA has arrested the suspects and seized dozens of passports.
Judge declines guard of honor
Reported in Jang (April 5, 2015) the chief justice of Lahore High Court declined a guard of honor when he arrived in Multan, saying he had done nothing to deserve it (koi karnama anjam nahee diya).
PPP workers attack food at Bhutto anniversary
According to Dunya (April 5, 2015) People’s Party workers who had gathered in Garhi Khuda Bukhsh for Bhutto’s death anniversary attacked a truck full of food as soon as it arrived (toot parray). They began to fight each other (gutham gutha, chheena jhapti). The driver tried to speed away, spilling all the rice.
Pilots avert collision above Zhob
Jang reports (April 6, 2015) a Kuwait Airways flight to Islamabad and a Singapore Airlines flight to London were on a collision path over Zhob in Balochistan because they did not receive any guidelines due to weak radar signals. The skilled pilots were able to avoid an accident, but the companies have filed complaints. There is a constant threat of accidents because of weak radar signals over Zhob.
Digger hits live tank shell buried in plot
According to Nawa-e-Waqt (April 6, 2015) a laborer digging in an empty plot in Lahore Cantt hit a live tank shell, causing a scare (khauf-o-hiras phail gya). Engineering Corps men reached the site and disabled the shell.