Here’s what’s happening across the border: Pakistan Senate condemns Dutch Right-winger’s cartoon contest; ailing wife yearns for Nawaz Sharif.
Pakpattan DPO transferred for intercepting car of First Lady’s former husband
Punjab’s Pakpattan District Police Officer (DPO) Rizwan Gondal was transferred Monday to the Central Police Office (CPO) in Lahore after he intercepted the car of Pakistan First Lady Bushra Maneka’s former husband Khawar Maneka on 23 August, reported The Times of Islamabad.
Reports suggested that last week, Khawar was asked to stop at a checkpoint but didn’t. When a team of police under Gondal chased and intercepted his car, Khawar allegedly misbehaved and hurled expletives at the personnel.
Subsequently, the Punjab government asked Gondal to apologise to Khawal and initiate an inquiry against his colleagues. However, DPO Gondal refused to do so and said the police did the right thing.
Shortly after, Gondal was transferred to CPO.
Pakistan Senate condemns Netherlands’ cartoon contest on Prophet
The Pakistan Senate Monday passed a unanimous resolution condemning the decision of Dutch Party of Freedom’s Geert Wilders to organise a caricaturing contest on Prophet Muhammad, to be held in Netherlands later this year, The News reported.
This is not the first time Pakistan has expressed outrage at the issue.
The resolution read, “The House considers that the proposed competition is tantamount to inciting hatred, racial prejudice, unrest, conflict and insecurity in a world that has already seen much bloodshed, racism, extremism, intolerance and Islamophobia and badly needs peace, interfaith harmony, mutual respect and tolerance.”
The resolution also mentioned that it was the duty of the state to ‘preserve, protect and promote Islam’ as it is the state religion under the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973.
Prime Minister Imran Khan told Senate that the government would raise the issue of blasphemous caricatures contest at the United Nations in the upcoming UN General Assembly session besides pushing the OIC to evolve consensus to raise a collective voice against such acts. pic.twitter.com/ytDVw9t3Iz
— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) August 27, 2018
To fulfill the resolution’s recommendation, Prime Minister Imran Khan said the issue will be taken up at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session as well by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. However, commenting on the general attitude of the West towards such concerns, Khan was quoted as saying, “It is very easy to create fitna (unrest) against Muslims in that society,” The Express Tribune reported.
Recalling the West’s sensitivity and solidarity towards Holocaust, Khan said, “If they feel pained discussing the Holocaust, why haven’t we been able to convey to the West how much we feel pained when they do blasphemous things against Islam and our beloved Holy Prophet?”
Interesting tweets of the day
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf urges citizens to take part in the Green Day drive as Pakistan gets set to plant more than 1.5 million saplings across the country on 2 September.
Pakistan, are you ready to make history on 2nd September? Over 1.5 Million saplings will be planted across Pakistan to mark Green Day in the country; PTI Social Media Team asks every citizen of Pakistan to take part in this historical event along with PM @ImranKhanPTI !#PTI pic.twitter.com/G2QmGJyjoR
— PTI (@PTIofficial) August 27, 2018
Dunya Media Group editor-in-chief Kamran Khan comments on the transfer of Pakpattan district police officer for intercepting Khawar Maneka, former husband of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s wife, over speeding.
What the hell is this going on, The district police officer of Pakpattan transferred after he intercepted Khawar Maneka, former husband of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s wife, for speeding.AND CM BUZDAR enjoying GOP jet to entertain family وہ انتظار تھا جسکا یہ وہ سحر تو نہیں pic.twitter.com/PAc56mLlqp
— Kamran Khan (@AajKamranKhan) August 27, 2018
Asfandyar Bhittani, who claims himself to be a member of Pakistan Defence, tweets a photo of installation of a fence along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
#Pakistan's Frontier Corps KPK constructing fence on the #Afghanistan border. The grey sheet is to hide troops/workers from sniper fire from Afghan side. pic.twitter.com/UFy3lXToXC
— Asfandyar Bhittani (@BhittaniKhannnn) August 27, 2018
No tea and water bottles at official events, says Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM
Following his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s agenda of austerity and simplicity, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Mahmud Khan has put a ban on serving tea during official meetings, reported The News International.
Khan further urged his officials to make sure that the water be served in glasses instead of bottles. He also added that officials must avoid extra expenses.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the chief minister house said instructions for reducing other expenditure during official events would be released soon.
Nawaz Sharif’s wife looks for husband and daughter after regaining consciousness
Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s wife Kulsoom Nawaz, who is admitted in a London hospital, keeps on asking the whereabouts of him and their daughter Maryam Nawaz, said Hussain Nawaz, son of the former PM, reported The Times of Islamabad.
Hussain also said that his mother is unaware of the fact that Sharif and Maryam are in jail now.
He told the media that his father is allowed to call once every two weeks for a few minutes. He also said that Kulsoom, currently in ICU, can speak now but is unable to sit, said the report.
Nawaz Sharif with daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Muhammad Safdar Awan were jailed last month in the London Avenfield luxury flats case.
Ugly Twitter tussle between Asif Ghafoor and PTM leader
An uncommon war of words ensued Monday between Major General Asif Ghafoor, director general of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), and Mohsin Dawar, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader and an independent Member of National Assembly (MNA), reported The Times of Islamabad.
The Twitter spat took place after the Pashtun leader claimed that one person was killed in last week’s North Waziristan protest.
Responding to the allegations, Ghafoor said truth about all the “inimical forces” will come out.
We don’t backtrack. We don’t mince words. There is no guilt in serving this great nation and the brave people of Waziristan. Truth can’t be hidden. And soon you shall see it coming out about all the ‘inimical forces’. We shall not allow anyone to reverse the gains of peace IA. https://t.co/1gDFUFqeiG
— Asif Ghafoor (@peaceforchange) August 26, 2018
To this, Dawar tweeted that there is nothing “inimical in asking for our rights.”
There is nothing peaceful about imposing curfews on IDPs & killing protestors exercising their basic rights. There is nothing "inimical" about demanding our rights enshrined in constitution. Truth will come out when causes of militancy will b investigated.https://t.co/V9IhSj0416
— Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) August 26, 2018
The spat furthered when Ghafoor wrote that no one was killed or injured during the protest, adding that foreign media reported fake information.
While an inquiry has been ordered to ascertain facts, no assurance given for any court martial. No one was killed/injured by Forces. @voadeewa keeps up its tradition of false reporting. People of Waziristan are peace loving and value the attained peace. pic.twitter.com/JV5SypbFnl
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) August 26, 2018
Dawar refused to backdown and wrote, “Our one precondition for beginning talks was an admission of guilt from your side, regarding the martyrdom of innocent protestors.”
And you are keeping your tradition of backtracking. Our one precondition for beginning talks was an admission of guilt from your side, regarding the martyrdom of innocent protestors. We only began talks AFTER we were given that admission of guilt. https://t.co/LvwyjpP1da
— Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) August 26, 2018
Contributors: Aastha Singh, Alind Chauhan, Manisha Mondal, Priyamvada Grover and Rupanwita Bhattacharjee