“Muslims for Trump”?
Daily Express (14 Nov 2016) reported that the Pakistani government, aside from its official congratulatory message to US President-elect Donald Trump, also reached out via unconventional means. The Pakistani government reached Sajid Tarar, a prominent advisor to Trump. He was quoted as saying that Trump will take a hard line on terrorism and that Pakistan ought to ‘get its own house in order’.
Rickshaw bars and dry nights!
It was reported in Daily Jang (14 Nov 2016) that police in Lahore seized some 80 bottles of alcoholic drinks from a rickshaw that aroused their suspicion. In another raid the same night, police recovered 50 litres of alcoholic drinks from a dealer in the city.
Tareen in denial mode?
PTI leader Jehangir Khan Tareen was quoted by Daily Jang (15 Nov 2016) as saying that all credit for the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) goes to the country’s military. He was further quoted as saying that the current corrupt government had no role in the completion and success of CPEC.
If only…
The Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf was quoted by Daily Jang (15 Nov 2016) as saying that all religious minorities in Pakistan are free, and enjoy all kinds of freedom to practice their faith.
The Council and its research…
The head of the Council of Islamic Ideology, Maulana Sherani, according to Daily Jang (17 Nov 2016) opined that instances of divorce will decrease if there is a gap between engagement (mangni) and the official marriage (nikah).
Liaqat Baloch and his imagery…
Daily Jang (18 Nov 2016) quoted the Secretary-General of the Jamaat-e-Islami, Liaqat Baloch, as saying that all those who have remained nude in the hamam (bathhouse) of corruption are now being un-veiled (be-niqab).
“China puts trade first” - as if it should not!
According to Daily Jang (18 Nov 2016), Senator Tahir Mashhadi raised the possibility that China might ask for trading access to India after the completion of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The Senator went on to observe that China puts trade above all other considerations and that its foreign and other policies are based on business interests. He went on to say that Pakistan ought not to close its eyes and make deals with China, since friendship with China is one thing and doing business with it is another thing.
Overkill by the Maulana?
Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman joined those who criticised PTI leader Imran Khan’s decision to boycott the session of Parliament which was addressed by Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to Daily Jang (18 Nov 2016), the JUI-F leader observed that by doing this, Imran Khan had proved that he was a companion of exiled Turkish preacher and political figure Fethullah Gulen.
Their ideal media…
Daily Dunya (20 Nov 2016) quoted the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq, as saying that the Pakistani media should shut down the voices of those who bring a bad name to the country. Other speakers at the event observed, among other things, that it was necessary for the country’s security for the media to work closely with the state authorities, and that it was not the job of the media to criticise institutions, but to expose the agenda of ‘the enemy’.
Angry lawyers
Daily Dunya reported that two lawyers at a sessions court in Lahore attacked an Assistant Sub Inspector of Police who was appearing there in the context of an ongoing trial. The lawyers thrashed the police official and tore up his uniform before senior lawyers intervened to stop them. A case has been registered against 10 lawyers in the aftermath of this incident.