Police raid transgender party
Reported in Dunya (April 13, 2015) police in Mand Bahauddin raided the birthday party of a transgender for violating the law against misuse of loudspeakers, forcing the guests to run away (dorrain lagwa deen).
Police flag march scares peasants
According to Express (April 13, 2015) when police in Okara took out a flag march, peasant men and women thought it was a law-enforcement operation against them. They came out on the streets with sticks and batons. They were assured that it is not an operation, after which they went back to their homes.
600 fourth-schedule suspects disappear
Jang reports (April 13, 2015) 600 suspects whose movements had been restricted under the Fourth Schedule in Punjab have disappeared. They have gone in hiding after reports that their movements will be tracked with electronic chips.
Policewoman’s car not allowed in high court premises
According to Dunya (April 14, 2015) when lawyers saw a policewoman’s car parked inside the Lahore High Court premises, they took off its rotating light, misbehaved with the driver, and forced the car out. She had to go home on a rickshaw.
PIA hostess arrested for cellphone smuggling
Reported in Nai Baat (April 14, 2015) a PIA hostess was arrested at Heathrow Airport for smuggling mobile phones. She had reached the airport to board flight 786 to Islamabad when she was searched. A large number of cellphones were seized from her.
‘Wapda minister laughs at common people’
According to Express (April 15, 2015) the state minister for water and power, Abid Sher Ali, made fun of the people who visited his ‘open court’ in Gujrat and laughed at them (dant nikaltay rahay). Other lawmakers sitting on the stage also laughed (qehqahay) at their helplessness (baybassi ka mazaq).
Prime minister changes ‘unhappy’ name
Reporting for Jang (April 15, 2015) Muhammad Saleh Zafir says the prime minister changed the name of a former minister of Gilgit Baltistan with his politeness (husn-e-salook). When Fida Muhammad Nashad told the premier his name, he asked what it meant. When he was told Nashad meant unhappy, the prime minister asked if he would change his name to Naushad if his demands were met. He agreed. The prime minister announced that his demands will be met. He stood up at his chair and said his name was now Naushad.
How to succeed in college
Quoted in Express (April 15, 2015) Hamza Shahbaz told college students no matter how hard they study, they will fail (nakaam) if they make their parents angry.
Three blind lecturers assigned to check voting slips and ID cards
According to Nai Baat (April 16, 2015) three blind college lecturers were assigned to check identity cards and voting slips in the Cantonment Board elections in Lahore.
Shahbaz Sharif impresses Saudi prince with fluent Arabic
Dunya says (April 17, 2015) when Shahbaz Sharif met the Saudi deputy crown prince in Riyadh, he spoke to him in fluent Arabic (rawani kay saath). Prince Muhammad bin Nayef was impressed, and expressed his pleasure.
One university, two vice chancellors
Reported in Jang (April 18, 2015) the new temporary vice chancellor of Urdu University took charge in Islamabad with the help of the city administration, but could not do so in Karachi. The VC named a new registrar, and a professor accompanied him to help him take charge, but the additional registrar in Karachi resisted and called Rangers. The Rangers and the professor quarreled (behes mubahisa) after which the professor left. The old VC said he was still in office and had foiled an attempt to occupy the registrar’s office.
Disappointed transgenders make own cricket team
According to Nawa-e-Waqt (April 18, 2015) transgenders in Sukkur were so disappointed in the Pakistani cricket team that they made their own team. When they played a match, they still chanted slogans in favor of the national cricket team every time there was a six or a four.