The story of Imran Khan’s ring
According to Nawa-e-Waqt (January 25, 2016) Imran Khan’s sisters are pressing him to marry for the third time, and have sent him photographs of 17 beautiful girls. They have also sent him a ring. Imran Khan keeps wearing the ring, and it is a popular topic of discussion these days (aaj kal bohot charcha hai).
Cop’s motorcycle stolen from police station
Reported in Dunya (January 26, 2016) a policeman’s motorcycle was stolen from inside a police station in Lahore. He had parked it on the premises and was on duty when the vehicle disappeared.
Pharmacy licenses are rented out
Jang reports (January 27, 2016) a large number of pharmacy license holders do not run their own medical stores. They make money by renting out their licenses on a monthly basis to people who are often not qualified to run pharmacies. The government has suspended 100 such licenses.
Groomsmen beaten up over bad jewelry
Express reports (January 27, 2016) a fight broke out during a wedding in Vihari when the bride’s relatives beat up the groom’s family (khoob thukai ki) because they brought cheap jewelry for the bride. It was made of silver and was not enough in quantity. There was a quarrel (galiyon ka tabadla) which turned into a fight. The wedding procession returned without the girl, who was married to her cousin.
Suspicious Delhi flying object ‘from Pakistan’ was weather balloon
Express reports (January 28, 2016) a suspicious balloon was seen near the New Delhi airport and reported to the Indian police. Television channels reported that the balloon was seen flying in over the border from Pakistan. It turned out to be a weather balloon.
Town administration and healthcare officials wrestle in Peshawar
Reported in Mashriq (January 28, 2016) town officials in Peshawar raided the office of the healthcare commission (dhawa bol diya) in an attempt to close it down during an operation against illegal occupation of government land. There was a quarrel, and soon the two parties began to wrestle (gutham gutha). One town official lost his temper (taish main aa gya) and he began to fire his gun in the air.
Passenger loses temper after PIA loses luggage and complaint
According to Mashriq (January 29, 2016) PIA misplaced Rs 200,000 worth of luggage belonging a passenger who arrived from Dubai to Peshawar. He filed a complaint in December, but PIA officials also misplaced the complaint. He carried out a protest outside the airline’s office, but they declined to compensate him.
Ghost government employee is a newspaper editor
Jang says (January 30, 2016) a ‘ghost employee’ of the Karachi Water Board is the editor of a local newspaper. All his sons are in the Fish Harbor Authority. He also received hundreds of thousands of rupees from officials to publish their interviews in the newspaper.
32nd day of January
A Weather Department forecast said January will have 32 days, Nawa-e-Waqt reports (January 30, 2016). It said the skies will clear out and the moon will be visible at 2am on January 32.
Councilor and friends beat up tax officials
Dunya reports (January 31) a union council chairman and his friends beat up a team of tax officials (pitai kar dee). They had come to seal five of his shops because of nonpayment of Rs 105,000 in taxes.