On salt…
Daily Dunya (23 March 2017) quoted Asif Ali Zardari of the PPP as saying that Sheikh Rasheed had once eaten a meal with him, but that perhaps there was not enough salt in the food.
Swift justice?
It was reported by Daily Express (23 March 2017) that former Chief Justice Ifitkhar Chaudhry and his son Arsalan had to face embarrassment after they attempted to a skip a queue at the Jeddah airport. Fellow passengers in the queue took exception to this, and the former Chief Justice’s son began to argue with one of them. However, Iftikhar Chaudhry, in view of the situation (soorat-e-haal ko bhaanptay huay), intervened and agreed that both father and son would take their place in the queue.
Lest anyone harbour doubts…
According to Daily Jang (24 March 2017), a Shiv Sena activist by the name of Gorakh Gopal claimed to have slapped Muslim leader Asad-ud-din Owaisi in the parking lot of the Parliament, after an argument. The Shiv Sena activist went on to say that if proof were required of his action, the security camera footage from the Parliament could be examined.
Zardari’s magic with words…
Daily Dunya (25 March 2017) reported that PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari, at a press conference, displayed his command over language and phrases (jumlay baazi). He quoted the late Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in saying that “They never get in trouble and we never get spared” (ay kaddi phansday naen, assi kaddi bachday naen). Furthermore, in response to a question, the former President responded with a phrase: “He is as bold as he is mischievous” (Jinna lucha, ouna uccha).
Not everyone’s celebrating!
According to Daily Dunya (25 March 2017), on the occasion of Mela Charaghan, the Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department of the government took contractors for a ride (haath kar gya). A tender had been issued by the Auqaf Department so that stalls and rides to be arranged for the three-day festival through contractors. The Department collected payments from them. But police later declared the stalls and rides to be a security risk. When the Department allegedly failed to return the contractors’ money, stall owners asked why their money had been taken if the stalls were prohibited by authorities. The stall owners warned of protests if their money is not returned.
A tale of helplessness?
Former president General (retd.) Pervez Musharraf was quoted in Daily Nawa-i-Waqt (25 March 2017) as saying that he had left the country with the permission of the Court, and that only those who are powerful in the country get justice. He went on to say that he was facing injustice, due to which General Raheel Sharif helped him leave the country.
Police couture
Daily Express (25 March 2017) reported on the reactions by police and citizens to the new uniforms for the Punjab Police. While one uniform was finally approved after trials of several other options, the report stated that many police personnel expressed their disapproval. Some said that the new uniform was a headache for tall officers, or those with fat bellies. They further said that the new uniforms included a belt made of cloth, which made it difficult to carry service pistols, handcuffs and wireless sets. Furthermore, some police personnel were quoted as saying that the older black-shirted uniform inspired awe and respect (roab-dar) but the new uniform did not have the same effect on people.
Justice is blind?
Daily Dunya (26 March 2017) reported that a cow who rammed into a car was arrested by police in Sukkur. The cow stood accused of having collided with a government-owned car, and on the complaint of the official who was assigned that vehicle, police loaded the cow onto a motorcycle rickshaw and took it to the police station. The cow was then tethered there, with police saying that if the owner did not pay for damages, the offending cow would stay there.
Invincible this time!
According to Daily Nawa-i-Waqt (26 March 2017), PTI chief Imran Khan predicted that in the elections to come, all the other political parties, put together, would be unable to take on his party.