Despite being removed for life from politics, Nawaz Sharif’s PML(N) is slated to return to power after elections in Pakistan in July, Fatima Bhutto writes a new book and in the Maldives, police prevent voters from participating in an opposition presidential primary.
Curated by Sharanya Munsi and Priyamvada Grover
Will Nawaz Sharif’s party win Pakistan’s general election?
With Pakistan gearing up for general elections 2018 on 25 July, The Economist’s prediction will surely make Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz very happy, The Express Tribune says.
Not only is the PML-N expected to be reelected “on the back of a strong showing in Punjab, with Shahbaz Sharif as the next prime minister, but that the ousted Nawaz Sharif “will remain influential in the party.”
Certainly, instability will continue, as military favourites, Imran Khan’s PTI party is unlikely to take the possible verdict lying down. According to The Economist, “unfavourable court rulings, resurgent opposition parties and worsening relations with the judiciary and military have raised downside risks to this call.”
Freedom of speech Vs national interest in Pakistan?
Pakistan no-fly ban on former ISI chief, Gen Asad Durrani, after comments he made in a book published in India called ‘Spy Chronicles,’ has set off a national debate on the question of trust, says Zahid Hussain in Dawn.
Hussain points out that several Pakistani authors who have criticised the military have faced its wrath. “The reaction reflects the narrow-minded perception of the military about national security. Even a former general is not spared. General Durrani has certainly not revealed any state secrets and the travel restriction on him appears extremely harsh”, he says.
Hussain observed the depleting trust among citizens in the military, with an increasing civil-military gap. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi raised the same concern this week when he called for a national dialogue.
Afghan bowler, Rashid Khan a hero for the country
Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has undoubtedly been a top performer in the last two Indian Premiere League (IPL) seasons, crowed Tolo News, and rightly so. Afghan president Ashraf Ghani recently tweeted, “Rashid reminds us whats best about Afg. He remains an asset to the cricketing world”.
Khan, who believes patience and confidence are his keys to success, has managed to take 21 wickets in this season for Sunrisers Hyderabad. After his outstanding performance against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, Khan was tagged as the best T20 bowler in the world by master-blaster Sachin Tendulkar.
A troublemaker for every top-order batsman, Khan has said that his three best three wickets so far were those of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and MS Dhoni.
Maldives upset over Indian Navy chief’s statement
Maldives expressed disappointment over remarks made by Indian navy chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba, at a seminar in the Vivekananda International Foundation last week, said Maldives Times.
“The Maldives is a challenge for us. The present government in the Maldives is more inclined towards China. The constitution has been tweaked and some islands have been handed over to the Chinese for development. We will have to wait and watch,” Lanba was quoted saying.
Responding to Lanba’s statement, a Maldivian government official remarked, “Coming from a naval chief, it is too political a statement. Such statements could lead to uneasiness and blow up a situation.”
India’s ties with Maldives have dipped since Maldives’ proximity to China increased. Presently, 70 percent of Maldives’ foreign aid flows from China. Maldives Times, in its editorial, pointed out that China is to the Maldives what India is to Afghanistan. “While India takes the lead in Afghanistan, China takes the lead in the Maldives,” it said.
Police halt MDP presidential primary
Policemen were seen snatching ballot boxes and intimidating voters Wednesday after the Maldivian Election Commission ordered a halt to the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) presidential primary election, the Maldives Independent reported.
The Election Commission declared the primary unlawful on the grounds that exiled former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed does not qualify as a candidate, because he is convicted of a criminal offence.
The never-say-die Nasheed put out a statement criticizing President Abdullah Yameen, accusing him of obstructing “the country’s democratic processes, this time by sending police to confiscate ballot boxes across the nation in the MDP presidential primary vote, and by forbidding television broadcasters to report on opposition candidates running in the elections, including myself.”
The last Afghan Jew says his family will return when peace does
Afghanistan’s only remaining Jew, Zablon Simintov, said he is extremely concerned about the country’s future, reported Tolo News.
The fifty-six-year-old gemstone trader said his family would return home only if peace returned to the country. He also asked the government to provide security and make the country prejudice free. “Until we stand united, the country will not be rebuilt. Foreigners are not here to provide security in everyone’s homes, that is our responsibility,” said Simintov.
Simintov spoke about a time when Herat, the city where he was born, had been home to at least 500 Jewish families. However, insecurities led them to leave the country.
Born and brought up in Afghanistan, Simintov was separated from his family 25 years ago during the Afghan civil war. He was amongst the few who stayed, taking shelter in a synagogue with another Jew who died in 2005.
India-Nepal conduct 13th edition of Surya Kiran
The 13th annual military exercise between India and Nepal began in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, Wednesday, reported The New Indian Express.
The exercise aims at training troops in counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism operations to ensure better coordination between the two countries during disaster management, anti-terrorism operations, and to improve bilateral relations.
As many as 300 soldiers from both countries participated Surya Kiran which included 10 women soldiers from Nepal Army for the first time. According to The Pioneer, the Indian Army was represented by the 13th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (Kargil) and the Nepal Army was represented by Gorkha Box Battalion.
Hear/see no ‘evil,’ say Pakistani censors, ban Veere Di Wedding
A story of four girl-friends — Sonam Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania — ‘Veere Di Wedding’ has enough star power to take it to the moon and back, but Pakistani censors believe the people must be protected from vulgar Indian social mores.
According to The Express Tribune.“Veere Di Wedding was screened before the full board and all members were surprised to see such content being displayed. This film is not acceptable in our society due to its vulgarity and sexual dialogues spoken by the four girls and so, we decided to ban it,” the newspaper quoted a senior CBFC official. The ban was followed by withdrawal of distribution applications.
‘Veere Di Wedding’ is the fourth Bollywood film to be banned this year in Pakistan after ‘Padman’, ‘Pari’ and ‘Raazi’. Firstpost reported that the Pakistan film industry fears that it may lose 70 per cent of its revenue if Bollywood films are banned across the border.
Some Pakistani authors, like Fatima Bhutto, clearly refuse to cower in front of the military
Bhutto is all set to launch her novel, Runaways in spring 2019. “Very, very happy that my upcoming novel, The Runaways, will be published in the UK by @katyloftus at @VikingBooks in spring 2019”, she tweeted Wednesday.
In her new book, the author of the best-selling novel The Shadow of the Crescent Moon, will delve into questions of a modern Muslim identity surrounded by an environment of violence in a politically polarised world, reported The Express Tribune.
Good movie nice concept, some of the parts were similar to some other Bollywood movies. Kareena, Sumit Vyas, and Swara did really well, overall good experience. I read Critics review also at Bollywood Hungama news site which covers all kinds of Bollywood updates, so go to Bollywood Hungama.