Different standards for the federal government and KP?
Daily Jang reported (24 Oct 2016) that opposition parties in the provincial assembly of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province announced extraordinary protests against the decision of the PTI provincial government to accept loans totaling more than Rs 100 billion from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. The opposition parties insisted that the matter be taken up at a Parliamentary level and called upon the PTI leadership to explain why such loans were necessary.
“Regulate this!”
It was reported in Daily Jang (24 Oct 2016) that when Print and Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) personnel tried to shut down an illegal cable TV operator in district Hafizabad, the team of officials was set upon by the owner and his armed accomplices. After beating the PEMRA team, the cable operators fled the scene.
A display of responsibility?
PTI chairman Imran Khan was quoted by Daily Express (24 Oct 2016) as saying that if, as a result of his party’s protest campaign, a “Third Force” (teesri quwwat) steps in, this would be the fault of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the government. The PTI chief went on to describe PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari as a bandit (daaku) who was not capable of apprehending the Prime Minister.
Bollywood: going underground from now on?
Daily Express reported (24 Oct 2016) that Pakistani actress Mahira Khan was continuing her work on her Bollywood debut film Raees at some secret (khufiya) location in the UAE. The report stated that the Indian Film Association had prohibited Pakistani stars from working in India after threats of violence from nationalist organisations in the state of Maharashtra.
America’s punishment?
General (retd.) Mirza Aslam Beg was quoted by Daily Dunya (27 Oct 2016) as saying that the coming four weeks would be critical to Pakistan’s democratic future. He was of the opinion that the United States wishes to punish Pakistan for the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by wrapping up its democratic government (jamhooriat ka bistar gowl). He also stated that the US was working with India in the region so as to punish Pakistan for resisting Indian hegemony.
Sheikh Rasheed’s antics
Daily Dunya (29 Oct 2016) described Sheikh Rasheed as making his appearance through old lanes (purani galliaan) with a new style (naya andaaz). On arrival in Rawalpindi’s Committee Chowk, he climbed aboard a DSNG van from a private media channel, lit up a cigar and said that he had fulfilled his promise. The report stated that at one point, when police tried to stop the motorcycle rider who was transporting Sheikh Rasheed, they were told that the latter was a patient being taken to hospital. The police, on hearing this, allowed them to pass.
So many conspiracies?
Daily Nawa e Waqt (29 Oct 2016) quoted the chief of the Aaalmi Anjuman Khuddam al-Din, Maulana Ajmal Qadri, as saying that Imran Khan’s plan to shut down Islamabad was a threat to the country’s security and an international conspiracy (aalmi saazish).
Tit for tat?
Daily Dunya (30 Oct 2016) reported that the Chief Minister of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province Pervez Khattak stated that if he and his companions were stopped from entering the federal capital to participate in the PTI’s lockdown, his provincial administration would also prevent the Prime Minister from entering KP province.
Indomitable Meera
Daily Dunya (30 Oct 2016) reported that actress Meera has decided to undergo yet another plastic surgery. After undergoing the surgery in the United States, the actress intends to stay for a while and then return to Pakistan to resume her work in showbiz.
Saas vs bahu
Daily Dunya (30 Oct 2016) reported that Jiya Bachan is angry at her famed daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai for participating in ‘bold’ scenes with actor Ranbir Kapoor in their new film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Jiya Bachan was quoted as saying that there was a time when stars showcased art in their films, but today the emphasis was only on commercial aspects and numbers. She went on to say that today’s stars have a total lack of shame (sharam naam ki koi cheez nahin hai).