Escalation spiral?
Daily Jang (04 March 2019) informed its readers that after her husband Shoaib Malik’s expression of support for Pakistani forces having downed an Indian MiG-21, tennis star Sania Mirza took “retaliatoary action” (jawabi kaarwai) against her spouse by declaring captured Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman to be a hero.
Dismal outlook
The US press, according to Daily Jang (05 March 2019) has taken a dim view of India’s military capabilities. In this context, the New York Times was quoted as saying that if there were to be open military conflict, at the moment India could provide its forces with only 10 days’ worth of ammunition – and that some 68 percent of its weapons and equipment were considered outdated.
High rank
Daily Dunya (06 March 2019) quoted the Director-General of WWF Pakistan as saying that Pakistan ranked second in all Asia in terms of the rate of deforestation.
Rebranding BJP?
Readers were informed by Daily Dunya (07 March 2019) that India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had become Bharatiya Joota Party – and that this was proven after party lawmakers from Uttar Pradesh fought each other with fists and shoes at an official meeting.
Sheikh Rasheed’s assessment
Daily Express (10 March 2019) quoted Sheikh Rasheed expressing his view that PM Imran Khan now faced no threat from people like Nawaz Sharif or Asif Ali Zardari, describing them as spent ammunition casings (chalay huay kaartus).
Strategic wisdom
Chaudhry Nisar criticized PM Imran Khan, according to Daily Dunya (10 March 2019). Nisar expressed his view that the PM ought not to appear so much on TV – and that on the one hand Khan spoke of Tipu Sultan, while on the other hand entreating India (minnatein) for peace. In Nisar’s view, repeated speeches by the PM sent the message to India that he was afraid on the inside.
Battle-ready
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, according to Daily Express (09 March 2019), suggested that the PCB should take up the issue of Indian cricketers wearing military-style caps during a match – as this was not cricket.
Love conquers all
It was reported by Daily Express (10 March 2019) that despite tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, Pakistani woman Kiran Sarjeet from Sialkot proceeded to marry Parvinder Singh from Ambala. The couple were able to celebrate their nuptials alongside families in Patiala.
Revolutionary road?
Daily Express (10 March 2019) informed its readers that recently removed minister Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan had taken revolutionary steps (inquilabi iqdamat) in the cultural sector (saqafati showba) during his months in office. Moreover, despite there having been 50 official holidays during his time in office, he did not take even one.
Unruly citizenry
It was reported by Daily Jang (10 March 2019) that when a traffic warden in Lahore stopped a man for driving carelessly, the latter simply got out of his car and began to rain down slaps on the uniformed official (thapparon ki baarish). He was eventually arrested by police so as to be charged for this violent behaviour.
These nuggets are culled from the Urdu press. They are summarised here without comment.
Absurd or ridiculous, tft takes no responsibility for them.