Keeping an eye on ‘em
It was reported by Daily Express (04 February 2019) that US President Donald Trump remarked on the need for US troops stationed in Iraq to keep an eye on neighbouring Iran. The report further stated that Trump saw Iran as the real problem.
Perspective from the Minister for Railways
Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed, according to Daily Express (04 February 2019), commenting on whether opposition leaders would be granted a deal or ‘dheel’ (reprieve) would depend on what PM Imran Khan wanted. Further, the Minister stated that he considered the period up to the 30th of March to be crucial.
Kashmir talk
Ali Amin Gandapur was quoted by Daily Express (04 February 2019) as saying that Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman used to become Chairman of the Kashmir Committee in order to make money (paisa khanay ke liay). Moreover, the federal minister remarked that investigations were underway to ascertain if the Maulana had been involved in misappropriation of the Kashmir Fund – and that the latter might end up imprisoned alongside Nawaz Sharif.
Fazalonomics
Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, according to Daily Jang (04 February 2019), expressed his view that real change in country required real representatives of the masses. He further opined that those who had made people dream of the State of Madinah were unwilling to change the economic system based on interest (soodi tarz-e-maeshat ko tabdeel karnay ko tayar nahin hein).
Demonology
The PPP’s Saeed Ghani, according to Daily Jang (04 February 2019), described Federal Minister Sheikh Rasheed as the Devil of Pindi (Pindi ka Shaitan). He went on to claim that Sheikh Rasheed was making his living of two meals a day by attacking Asif Ali Zardari.
A second opinion?
It was reported by Daily Express (05 February 2019) that the PTI’s Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan expressed his view on the medical reports for former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. According to Chohan, the reports proved that it was Nawaz Sharif’s intentions that are bad, and not his health (sabit ho gya Nawaz Sharif ki tabiat nahin niyyat kharab hai).
Hands tied
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, according to Daily Nawa-i-Waqt (09 February 2019), claimed that due to the extravagance (ayashian) of previous governments, the PTI government was in no position to offer immediate relief to the people who had brought it to power. He went on to state that the hands of the government were tied due to economic difficulties – and that these problems had been inherited from previous governments.
Austerity in restraints?
Daily Express (07 February 2019) reported that despite a budget of billions of rupees, police in Lahore presented 20 individuals accused of kite-flying before a magistrate – tied with ropes rather than handcuffs. The report stated that the magistrate expressed severe disapproval of this occurrence.
Summary
Daily Dunya (09 February 2019) reported that Federal Minister Sheikh Rasheed claimed that the politics of the Sharif brothers began with “Qatari” and ended with “pathari” (kidney stones).
Clarity
PM Imran Khan was quoted by Daily Dunya (10 February 2019) as saying that whoever thought that the government would agree to grant an NRO, they ought to know that nobody would get it. The PM was further quoted as saying that granting an NRO would be treason against the country (NRO dena mulk se ghadaari hogi).