Tourism office shut down for not paying rent
Reported in Jang (May 29, 2014), an office of the Department of Tourism in Lahore was locked down by the owner of the property because the government had not been paying him the rent.
Muslim professor not being replaced by Ahmadi
Reported in Dunya (May 30, 2014), a Punjab University spokesman has denied that an Ahmadi woman had been appointed the director of the Institute of Biotechnology. He said the existing director would continue in office.
PTI workers scuffle with PML-N women
Quoted in Jang (May 30, 2014), two women Punjab Assembly members from the PML-N, Salma Shaheen and Farzana Butt, said male PTI workers attacked them (halla bol diya) when they were visiting a polling station during by-elections in Hafizabad. They kicked, insulted and mistreated them (thudday maray, galiyan dete hue sharamnaak harkaat keen), including pulling on their clothes and dupattas. PTI workers said the women had come to rig the elections and were rude to the workers when they were stopped.
Minister’s relatives refuse to budge
Reported in Dunya (May 30, 2014), when officials of the Motor Vehicle Registration Authority stopped a Mercedes car without registration documents outside the mental hospital in Lahore, the passengers locked themselves inside the car, blocking the traffic behind them. The director of the authority arrived at the scene and took them to his office, where they said they were relatives of a provincial minister.
Shopkeeper points gun at customer, hurts himself
Reported in Nawa-e-Waqt (May 31, 2014), a shopkeeper was injured by a bullet from his own gun during a scuffle with a customer. The customer had not been able to pay on time for a product he had bought on installments.
Anonymous signs say London park is ‘Islamic area’
Police in London is investigating a sign put up at the Bartlett Park declaring it an Islamic area, Nawa-e-Waqt reports (June 1, 2014). The note warned visitors not to bring dogs to the park, because Muslims do not like dogs.
Artistes sick and tired of inappropriate calls
According to Express (June 1, 2014), artistes in Lahore have stopped taking direct phone calls because of increasing inappropriate calls. Most such artists are women, many of who change their phone number every few months.
Zafri Khan rejects lucrative offer to work in India
Reported in Express (June 2, 2014), famous comedian of film and theater Zafri Khan has refused to perform in India. He was offered a lucrative salary to work in an Indian comedy TV show, but he declined, because he would not work in an India production.
Traffic warden flees after beating up two boys
Reported in Pakistan (June 3, 2014), a traffic warden beat up two boys when they declined to receive a ticket after violating a traffic rule on their motorcycle. They called the police, but the warden had fled by the time they arrived.
Train runs over boy busy talking on mobile phone
Reported in Nawa-e-Waqt (June 3, 2014), a young man was run over by a train that he didn’t know was approaching because he was busy talking on his mobile phone.
Pop singers asked to reveal assets
According to Dunya (June 4, 2014), tax authorities have served notice on seven popular singers asking them to reveal their assets. The artists include Humer Arshad, Shahida Mini, Naseebo Lal, Humaira Channa, Shazia Manzoor, Akram Rahi and Anwar Rafi.
Army’s sniffer dog dies doing police duty at Raiwind
Reported in Jang (June 4, 2014), a sniffer dog that the Special Branch of the police had borrowed from the army died after it fell ill while on duty at the Raiwind Farm in Lahore. It cost 0.5 to 0.7 million rupees. An investigation has been initiated.