Free at last
Daily Jang (23 September 2019) reported that the frogs seized by authorities at the Ravi bridge check-post were released back into the river. This was done after it was confirmed by the Livestock Department that as non-reptile creatures, possession of the frogs could not result in prosecution.
Ultimatum
Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, according to Daily Jang (23 September 2019), emphasized that he sought no clash with any institution, but that he would under no circumstances grant an NRO to PM Imran Khan. He added that the date for his planned Azadi March would be announced soon, in a matter of days.
Kashmir strategy
Siraj-ul-Haq of the Jamat-e-Islami claimed, according to Daily Jang (23 September 2019), that the government would not be permitted to take any U-turns on the Kashmir issue. He went on to opine that unity around the Kashmir issue was more important than even nuclear weapons. Moreover, he urged the government to fight for Kashmir in Srinagar before they have to fight for it in Islamabad.
Gen Rawat on Kashmir
India’s Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat was quoted by Daily Jang (24 September 2019) as saying that there was a need for scholars who would offer a correct interpretation of Islam in Kashmir.
Reassuring
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, according to Daily Jang (24 September 2019), assured Hindus who found themselves classified as illegal immigrants that they would not be expelled from India. He was commenting on the issue of citizenship rights in Assam.
Request
It was reported by Daily Express (25 September 2019) that PM Imran Khan stated he had been asked by US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to mediate in Iran-Saudi tensions. He further said that MBS had asked him to speak with the Iranian President so as to reduce tensions in the region.
Switching sides
Daily Dunya (27 September 2019) reported that the Supreme Court had to fine a lawyer Rs. 20,000 after he began to offer arguments for the opposing side before the court. According to the report, the lawyer had been engaged by a brother in a legal dispute with his sister, but in the course of his arguments, when asked by the judge as to who he was speaking for, he said that he was arguing for the sister. On this, the judge reminded him that it was the brother who had engaged his legal services and issued instructions that he be fined on the spot.
Deadline
PPP’s Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, according to Daily Jang (25 September 2019), told party workers in Sukkur that if the “puppet government” (kath-putli hakoomat) did not fall by the 1st of January, then party loyalists from all over the country would march to Rawalpindi.
Warning
Marriyum Aurangzeb of the PML-N was quoted by Daily Express (26 September 2019) as saying that anyone who had the name “Sharif” on their ID card ought to change it, lest they are arrested by NAB. She further predicted that now the PM would seek a deal but that the people would offer him no concession (dheel).
Maulana’s assessment
According to Daily Dunya (27 September 2019), Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman expressed his view that PM Imran Khan could not resolve a village-level dispute. The Maulana asked as to how, then, it was possible for the PM to intervene effectively in the dispute between Iran and Saudi Arabia.