When the cat is away, the mice will play…
Daily Jang (06 Mar 2017) reported that despite the decision of the police to come down hard on gambling, the arrangements for the Pakistan Super League meant that police were busy with security, and many who were waiting took advantage of the extraordinary situation - to gamble openly.
Where might the reasons be?
According to Daily Jang (07 March 2017), the Pakistan Ulema Council, condemning terrorism, took the view that alongside an ‘End to Strife’ (Rudd-ul-Fasad), there should also be a search for the ‘Reasons for Strife’ (Wajooh-e-Fasad). The Council went on to take the view that negative propaganda against madrassahs should be halted, and that ulema and madrassahs are the guardians of Pakistan’s frontiers.
Senator Hamdullah’s ode to donkeys
Senator Hafiz Hamdullah of the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam (F), according to Daily Dunya (08 March 2017), called for legislation to prevent the slaughter of donkeys, so as to prevent people from being fed donkey meat. He went on to say that the donkey was the poor peoples’ means of conveyance, and it could be compared to an expensive bullet-proof car for them.
Rana Sanaullah on dollars and halva
Rana Sanaullah was quoted by Daily Dunya (08 March 2017) asking as to how Siraj-ul-Haq became a jihadi. He went on to suggest that ‘everyone knew’ who ate dollars as if they were halva.
Brawl in the Hall
According to Daily Express (10 March 2017), Murad Saeed of the PTI was infuriated by the remarks against party leader Imran Khan, made by the PML-N’s Javed Latif. After an exchange of heated words in the lobby of the National Assembly, Murad Saeed proceeded to punch Javed Latif, but the brawl was halted by the intervention of others nearby.
No big deal for Talal Chaudhry?
Talal Chaudhry of the PML-N, remarking on the issue of Javed Latif’s comments about women of Murad Saeed’s family, stated that Parliament was for addressing national questions, and that this matter of abuse was not a national question. He added that once an apology for the remarks had been given, there was no need to further stretch the matter. Daily Express (11 March 2017) reported that Chaudhry went on to remark that if Imran Khan were to be held accountable for misbehaviour, a hundred references against him could be prepared.
Volley-ball after a coup?
General (retd.) Pervez Musharraf was quoted by Daily Express (12 March 2017) as saying that there had been no pressure on Ishaque Dar to submit a statement in the money-laundering case against the latter. The former President went on to add that no force was used on Nawaz Sharif either during his incarceration - and that in fact the toppled Prime Minister used to play volley-ball, as well as chat up the men guarding him.
Speed and efficiency…
Daily Express (12 March 2017) reported that staff at the Civil Hospital Gojra seized an old man called Nizamuddin, who had come to visit his nephew in hospital, and forced him into the operation theatre. They performed an eye surgery on the 80-year-old man despite his protests - and only after the procedure had been completed did it become clear that another individual of the same name (Nizamuddin) had been due for eye surgery.
The case of the missing contractor
It was reported by Daily Express (12 March 2017) that in Hujra Shah Muqeem a contractor working for the Public Health Engineering authorities, after receiving a contract worth many hundreds of thousands of rupees to work on the Circular Road and Haveli Road some six years ago, abandoned the project midway and fled or disappeared. The roads are now reported to be in deplorable condition after being abandoned for so long.
Bonanza in Sindh!
Daily Nawa-i-Waqt (12 March 2017) reported that the National Accountability Bureau, acting on information from recently arrested billionaire police officers (who happened to be father and son), went on to arrest a billionaire former Additional District Accounts Officer for Hyderabad. The arrested former official allegedly made his money by misappropriating public funds. Authorities recovered large amounts of foreign currency (Saudi riyals), jewelry, property documents and expensive vehicles from the suspect.