The party continues
Daily Jang (9 July 2018) reported that despite stringent prohibitions on both in Lahore, large numbers of youth continued to fly kites on their rooftops and perform one-wheeling and death-defying stunts in the streets – with the police unable to halt either.
Purge
According to Daily Jang (9 July 2018), some 18,000 more employees accused of involvement in the coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have been sacked. These include 199 university faculty members and 1,052 civil servants. The overall number of people charged by the government in connection with the coup attempt has now exceeded 50,000.
On justice
Ayesha Gulalai, according to Daily Jang (9 July 2018), is of the view that the sentences meted out to Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz are not enough (kamm samajhti hoon). She was quoted as saying that such corrupt people should be given a life sentence in prison.
Reality check, Kaptaan-style
Imran Khan was quoted by Daily Jang (9 July 2018) as saying that Nawaz Sharif was no Mandela, and that he ought not to act like one, but to account for what he had done. He also stated that Captain Safdar had gone to his arrest as if he had conquered Kashmir.
Donations
Daily Jang (10 July 2018) reported that when Imran Khan was asked how much money the PTI would contribute to the fund for the Diamer-Bhasha dam, the PTI chief replied that he collected donations, and did not give them (chanda lenay wala hoon, denay wala nahin).
Political discourse
Imran Khan was quoted by Daily Dunya (13 July 2018) as saying that those who went to welcome Nawaz Sharif on his return would be donkeys (gadhay). He also expressed his view that kingship (badshahat) would be the end of a lame democracy (langri jamhooriat).
The best cuts?
It was reported by Daily Express (13 July 2018) that 4 maunds (160 kg) of meat from expired animals (murda gosht) had been recovered from a rickshaw by a Dolphin police squad. The meat was intended for distribution to various Lahore butchers.
Duties
Daily Express (13 July 2018) reported that a police constable was relieved of duty after it was discovered that he had taken a year off so as to work for the PML-N’s electoral campaign in Sahiwal.
How liberals plan to win
MMA leader Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman was quoted by Daily Nawa-i-Waqt (13 July 2018) as saying that liberal politicians wanted to achieve power in the country, in pursuit of a Western agenda in the country. According to the Maulana, they were looking to purchase votes through transformers, motor pumps and drains.
Run alone!
Daily Express (14 July 2018) informed its readers that in Burundi, the government had clamped down on the popular practice of jogging in groups on days off from work. This was done to prevent political opposition to the government from emerging out of large gatherings. Jogging together with others in Burundi could now get one a life term in prison, according to the report.
Cooking behind bars
Former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani was quoted by Daily Express (15 July 2018) as saying that when he was in jail, he would pool together money with other prisoners to cook his own food – and that Nawaz Sharif might have to do something similar.