Scholars become absconders
Reported in Express (August 9, 2014) at least 280 students who were given scholarships by the Higher Education Commission to study abroad refused to return. Some of them did not even complete their education. Others believe they do not have job opportunities back in Pakistan. Thirty-one such students have been declared absconders. Four of them are women.
Tahirul Qadri shouldn’t speak English
According to Nawa-e-Waqt (August 9, 2014) Pakistanis at home and abroad have criticized Tahirul Qadri for addressing his supporters and the media in English. He is a religious leader and has hurt the feelings of Pakistanis by speaking English (jazbaat majruh hue hain).
Rainwater stops government work in Lahore
Reported in Dunya (August 10, 2014) several offices in the Civil Secretariat in Lahore were filled with water after it rained in the city. The employees drained water from the offices the entire day.
Actress leaves Pakistan because of threats
Reported in Nawa-e-Waqt (August 11, 2014) actress Mahnoor has left Pakistan and moved to Malaysia because of threats and a gun attack on her and her mother at their house in Johar Town area of Lahore.
Police seizes devices that slow down electricity meters
Reported in Jang (August 11, 2014) FIA seized a large number of electronic chips and remote devices that reverse, stop, or slow down electricity meters, in a raid in Ichhra area of Lahore. They are also questioning industrialists who used the devices to steal electricity.
Lahore bans drone cameras
Jang reports (August 12, 2014) that the Lahore district government has banned helicams and drone-mounted cameras under section 144 of the penal code. In order to stop the abuse of such cameras, only the media will be given permission to use them after proper assurances (tasalli karwanay kay baad).
Political uncertainty stops government work in Lahore
Dunya reports (August 13, 2014) that the bureaucracy in Punjab is confused (gu magu ka shikar) about what is going to happen next, because of which important administrative members have been put on hold.
Jamshed Dasti joins PTI
Reported in Express (August 14, 2014), famous politician Jamshed Dasti met Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi and announced joining the PTI. Imran Khan said the development would strengthen his party and help him make a new Pakistan.
Social media war intensifies
According to Nawa-e-Waqt (August 14, 2014) the ‘high tech war’ between fans of PML-N and PTI on the social media (samaji websites) has become more intense. There has been an increae in allegations, filthy language (ghaleez zuban) and unethical (ghair-ikhlaqi) posters.
Pickpocket robs MNA of Rs 50,000 at Azadi March
Reported in Jang (August 15, 2014) a pickpocket in PTI’s Azadi March stole Rs 50,000 from MNA Mujahid Khan in Mardan. Five pickpockets were caught on the way from Lahore to Islamabad.
Police seizes PAT food and arrests chef
Reported in Express (Augus 16, 2014) a leader of Tahirul Qadri’s Awami Tehrik ordered 200 cauldrons of food from Lal Din Bawarchi. When the police found out, the arrested the chef and seized the food.
Man delays wedding to go to Azadi March
Reported in Dunya (August 17, 2014) a fan of Imran Khan (kaptaan ka diwana) from Multan left his home and joined the Azadi March on the eve of his wedding. He said he would not wed until Imran Khan happily returned (khushi khushi).