| Paul Moloney used to post these regularly, back in the day. It's been a while, and I thought it time to revisit the tradition. |
Gwadar recedes into pastReported in daily Jinnah Gwadar was planned as an international vacationing point eight years ago with a free port, an economic zone and a holiday resort. But today it was a home to ghosts with nothing developed as per plans, only signboards indicating where the big hotels were to come up. The Chinese have completed the port which is ready for ships but there are no ships. Gwadar was linked to Karachi through a costal road but Gwadar itself has receded into its past of wilderness.
Bogus degrees holders don't show up
Election Commissioner was quoted by Jinnah as saying that powerful politicians like Nadir Magsi and Israrullah Zehri with reports of bogus educational degrees had not shown up to clear themselves with proof. Over 200 cases were being processed.
Pak driver writes love letter to Ms Kennedy!
Reported in Jinnah a Pakistani driver named Umar in New York wrote a love letter to the granddaughter of late President John F Kennedy and was put behind bars for four months. He came out of the prison and at once announced that he would ask for the hand in marriage of Ms Kennedy formally.
Shah Mehmood versus 'Pharaoh' of US
Quoted in Jinnah ex-foreign minister Shah Mehmood said he had no personal interest (zati lalach) and that was why when the time came to stand up to the pharaoh of America he was able to give a good account of himself. He said army should take serious note of what the Americans said about Pakistan's anti-terrorism policy.
Political parties are into 'bhatta'
Daily Jang quoted IG Sindh as saying that all the three parties in the ruling alliance in Karachi were taking protection money (bhatta) and grabbing land and had special wings doing this activity. He said all three -- MQM, PPP and ANP -- were responsible for the bad law and order situation in Karachi.
A Canadian-Muslim problem!
Reported in Jinnah one Pakistani Muslim Jahanzeb Niazi in Canada began to live together with a Hindu lady named Roshni and begat her with a son without getting married to her. After four years the two separated and Niazi brought his son to Pakistan. They were followed by the mother who wants her son back. In Canada it was not a problem but in Pakistan both might have to be punished for fornication and the son might have to face consequences of being na-jaez (illegitimate).
'Plot to kill Bhutto prepared before me!'
Old advocate general under General Maqbool Malik was quoted by Jang as saying that the plot of the judicial murder of Bhutto was prepared before his very eyes and that he would be willing to testify in the court of law if he was called by the Supreme Court.
Target-killers are ANP and MQM!
Daily Jang reported that of the 26 target-killers arrested most were from the two wings of MQM, ANP and two sectarian outfits named Sipah Sahaba and Sipah Muhammad. The PPP did not have a single member among them while 14 were from MQM, 5 from Lashkar Jhangvi, 3 from Sipah Sahaba and one each from ANP and Sipah Muhammad (Shia).
Americans have moved in!
Leader of terrorist organisation Sipah Sahaba Ahmad Ludhianvi was quoted in Jinnah as saying that the Americans who were spreading provocation in the Middle East had all moved into Pakistan to complete their job here. He said chalkings against Saudi Arabia in Pakistan were a conspiracy against Islam. He asked that US interference in Pakistan be stopped.
Take Kashmir, save water!
World-famous jihadi leader Hafiz Saeed told Jinnah that Pakistan had to attack and take Kashmir from India otherwise there will be no water to drink and no electricity in Pakistan, because all the rivers of Pakistan came out of Kashmir. He said the government may be helpless to act but not he and his jihadis.
Woman burns Quran in Rahimyar Khan
A woman in Rahimyar Khan was reported in Jinnah as having burnt the Quran. The police was convinced that the woman was mad but the people were agitating and were dangerous for the safety of the mad woman after which the police took the woman into custody.
After Musharraf, Zardari!
Famous columnist Hamid Mir wrote in Jang that Musharraf attacked GEO TV because the latter was defending Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, and new President Zardari was doing the same thing to GEO TV. Now the strategy was to tame all the media before attacking the judiciary.
Bridegroom runs for his life
Reported in Jinnah a Qaidabad wedding fell into disarray during the local ceremony of doodh-pilai (bridegroom drinks milk) after which the sasuraal (bride's home) people demanded money. When the bridegroom did not give the money he was beaten up. When the relatives of the bridegroom came to his defence they were roundly thrashed too. After that the bridegroom ran from the wedding followed by his relatives while the bride's party beat them with sticks. The wedding party barely saved their lives (jaanain bachaeen).
Imran Farooq was behind target-killing
Daily Jang reported that the murdered London-based MQM leader Imran Farooq was behind the target-killings in Karachi organised by one Afzal Pahari. This revealed that the killings were planned in London although Imran Farooq may have done this on his own and not for MQM.
Bhutto case spoiled by PPP
Lawyer Ahmad Raza Qasuri who lodged the FIR that killed Bhutto told Jinnah that it was the PPP that caused its leader to be killed because of the delays it caused in the case. He said Bhutto was greatly scared of the FIR against him but Qasuri kept steady despite all pressures. He said PPP lawyer Yahya Bakhtiar was doing more personal projection than defending Bhutto, which destroyed the case (baira gharak). He said Bhutto was responsible for the breakup of Pakistan. He added that present federal Law Minister of PPP Babar Awan distributed sweets on Murree Road after Bhutto was hanged.
Kamal Azfar turns hostile
PPP lawyer Kamal Azfar was reported by daily Jinnah as saying that he was ready to present the NRO review petition but the law ministry completely bamboozled him (matt maar di). He said the Supreme Court wanted to do justice but the government representatives had lost all hope of winning the case.
Imran Khan great leader
Writing in Jang the best Urdu columnist Haroon Rasheed stated that he was pained to hear that Tehreek Insaf would join the Punjab rally of the MQM and approached Imran Khan to challenge this decision by him. Although the media had spread the news, Imran Khan was upset and at once said that his party would not attend the MQM rally. But the media kept on giving out the same news. Imran Khan was a great man but an incomplete politician whom Haroon Rashid knew personally for the last 16 years. It was wrong on his part to take Meraj Muhammad Khan as party member.
| Nb: at the link there are really wonderful ink drawings for each item. For whatever reason they did not come with the text, no doubt a reflection of my copy/paste skills. Click on the article title to go there and see for yourself. |