Of containers to come
Daily Jang (27 August 2018) quoted Sajid Mir as saying that a time would come when all politicians, including Imran Khan, would be found atop a container, seeking true democracy (haqiqi jamhuriat).
Not buying the austerity
Marriyum Aurangzeb, according to Daily Dunya (28 August 2018), took the view that the new government’s slogan of austerity (bachat) was a farce (topi drama). She opined that the people were not interested in the government saving up on expenses of tea and biscuits, but were instead looking for 10 million jobs and 5 million houses. She further stated that claims of austerity could only be meant to fool people when coming from someone who flew around in a helicopter as though it were a rickshaw.
Not yet
Daily Dunya (29 August 2018) reported that former President General (r.) Pervez Musharraf had once again declined to return to Pakistan to face legal proceedings, citing ill health as a reason. A lawyer for Musharraf stated that he was under treatment in Dubai and that his doctors had advised him not to return. He further stated that the former strongman would return only his doctors allowed it and when he received assurances of his security from the Ministry of Defence.
Ooops
According to Daily Dunya (29 August 2018), 42 new rifles at the arsenal of the police in Paraguay were found to have been stolen and replaced by toy guns. The stolen rifles were likely to have been smuggled to Brazil and Argentina, while wooden and plastic toy guns were left in their stead at the police arsenal.
Self-defence, Mattis style
Daily Dunya (30 August 2018) quoted US Secretary of Defence James Mattis as saying that Saudi Arabia had a right to defend itself and that the United States saw its support for the Saudi war in Yemen as a correct step. Mattis went on to express the view that Iran would have to pay a heavy price for meddling in Yemen.
Trump throws in a plot twist
According to Daily Dunya (30 August 2018), US President Donald Trump claimed that Hillary Clinton’s emails had been hacked by the Chinese during the 2016 Presidential election campaign.
Not convinced
President Mamnoon Hussain was quoted by Daily Dunya (30 August 2018) as expressing the view that it was not possible to travel 1 km on a helicopter in Rs. 55.
Won’t do?
Presidential candidate for the PPP Aitzaz Ahsan, according to Daily Dunya (31 August 2018), stated that he found Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman’s role unacceptable (ghair-munasib). According to Ahsan, the Maulana had gone to seek a hand in marriage for someone else (rishta karanay gae thay) but had ended up getting wedded himself (khud nikah parhwa kar aa gae). He further emphasised that it was quite impossible for him to step down from candidacy in favour of the Maulana.
Consensus dulha
It was reported by Daily Express (02 September 2018) that Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman took the view that his withdrawal of his candidacy was a matter for 10 parties to consider, whereas Aitzaz Ahsan’s withdrawal was a matter for only one party. The Maulana further responded to Aitzaz Ahsan’s jibes about him having become an unexpected bridegroom (dulha). He stated that Aitzaz Ahsan was like the bridegroom who was rejected by both his own family and that of his future in-laws – so it was better that a groom be chosen who everyone could agree upon.
Official view?
Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab Hassan Askari was quoted by Daily Express (02 September 2018) as saying that it was not possible to claim that elections were completely transparent. He further stated that he could not comment on what happened after 6 pm in the evening on polling day, but that he could give assurance to the effect that nothing wrong was done on the level of the government.
Security threat?
Daily Nawa-i-Waqt (02 September 2018) reported that Indian actress -turned-politician Divya Spandana was charged for sedition after her positive remarks about Pakistani people and their generosity. She had made these remarks after a visit to Pakistan, but a local lawyer had relied on an outdated aspect of colonial legislation from the Indian Penal Code to bring a case for sedition against her.