Daily Times

Interestingly, the paper used the term marhoom for Justice Cornelius, which Pakistani media exclusively uses for deceased Muslims. More interestingly, Mr. Asar Chauhan used the term aanjihani for Asif Zardari’s deceased father, Hakim Ali Zardari (Daily 92 News, January 2). The Pakistani media exclusively uses this term for deceased non-Muslims.

Soothsayer says Asif Zardari, Shahbaz Sharif will be disqualified, Nawaz Sharif will be bailed out

The predictions of four well-known soothsayers for 2019 appeared in Express (December 31). They had appeared in Jameel Sukhera’s TV show entitled To the Point. Agha Beheshi predicted that in 2019 Pakistan would go towards development, success and prosperity.  It will be a year of strength and consolidation for Imran Khan. His wife is a source of good luck for him. The PPP will drop live tree leaves. Asif Zardari and Shahbaz Sharif will be disqualified. Hamza would also be nabbed by March. Nawaz Sharif will be bailed out in February or March. Maryarm will run the party. She will emerge as a powerful woman in the next a few years. Murad Ali Shah will be replaced. In 2020 Usman Buzdar will not be there. Reham Khan will tie the knot yet again.

The Tarot card reader Aalia Nazeer said that the New Year would be somewhat good for Imran Khan, but there would be rampant price hike and natural disasters in the first six months. Sindh will see  Governor’s rule or a PTI government. Nawaz Sharif will go abroad in 2019. Maryam has no political future, but she will re-emerge in 2023. The palmist A.S. Chaudhary said that Bushra Bibi is proficient in spiritual sciences and she will benefit Imran Khan’s political life. Nawaz Sharif will remain behind bars in 2019. Usman Buzdar will not continue as chief minister.

Justice Cornelius was the epitome of honesty and patriotism

At a seminar in Islamabad, glowing tributes were paid to Mr. A.R. Cornelius, the Agra-born Catholic who served as the fourth chief justice of Pakistan from 1960 to 1968. He also served as the law minister in the Yahya regime. Despite being a Catholic Christian, Justice Cornelius studied Islam deeply, Senator Raja Zafarul Haq, the PML-N chairman (Nawa-i-Waqt, December 31). He advocated Islam and in its light, he prepared a constitutional draft. Dr. Qibla Ayaz, the chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology, said that Justice Cornelius was in favor of basing the country’s system and constitution  on Islamic teachings. Dr. Anees Ahmad, the vice chancellor of Riphah International University, said that Justice Cornelius always called himself a constitutional Muslim. In fact, he was connected to the ideology of Pakistan. He always tried to follow the Sharia law because he considered it in harmony with nature. Interestingly, the paper used the term marhoom for Justice Cornelius, which Pakistani media exclusively uses for deceased Muslims. More interestingly, Mr. Asar Chauhan used the term aanjihani for Asif Zardari’s deceased father, Hakim Ali Zardari (Daily 92 News, January 2). The Pakistani media exclusively uses this term for deceased non-Muslims.

Lord Nazir says that political leaders need training about the Kashmir issue

Lord Nazir Ahmed has said that the political leaders need training about the Kashmir issue. In order to inform the international community about the Kashmir situation, it is imperative for the members of parliament to be well versed in the issue (Nawa-i-Waqt, January 1, 2019). Along with Mishal Malik, he was addressing a press conference in Islamabad. He also said that 2018 was the worst year for the Kashmiris in the last decade. He was of the opinion that Maulana Fazlur Rahman as the chairman of the National Assembly’s Kashmir committee damaged the Kashmir cause. In this way the Kashmir issue disappeared from the public view. The minister for human rights should not talk about the Kashmir issue.

Sheikh Rasheed calls Rana Sanaullah stinky. Returning the compliment, Rana says that Sheikh Rasheed was dirt poor in 1985, and that he started his business career with gambling

Sirajul Haq condemns Bangladesh as the worst dictatorship

Senator Sirajul Haq, chief of the the Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan, has condemned Bangladesh, saying that in the name of democracy the worst dictatorship has been imposed on Bangladesh. Innocent Muslims are being killed for committing the crime of saying no to Indian slavery. The drama of election is being used only to protect Indian interests. In the West, people talk of animal rights but nobody takes notice of the ongoing massacres of Muslims in the world, including Bangladesh and Kashmir. It is interesting to note that the website of Bangladesh Jamaat-i-Islami does not mention any statements of support from the Jamaat-i-Islami  Pakistan or any Pakistani for that matter. The JI chief also criticized the PTI government, arguing that the promise of across-the-board accountability had turned into a dream.

Sheikh Rasheed calls Rana Sanaullah stinky. Returning the compliment, Rana says that Sheikh Rasheed was dirt poor in 1985, and that he started his business career with gambling.

Sheikh Rasheed says Modi can stage a surgical strike, calls Rana Sanaullah stinky

Sheikh Rasheed, the Federal Railways Minister, has said that appointing Shahbaz Sharif the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee is contrary to the law and the constitution (Dunya, December 28). He was addressing a press release at the Railways Headquarters. I am thinking of moving the Supreme Court in this regard. Shahbaz is playing on both sides of the wicket. I don’t see the Sharifs and Zardaris continuing their politics, he said. He predicted that 2019 would be the most important year for the world of politics. Narendra Modi can stage a surgical strike on Pakistan’s border. He called Rana Sanaullah a stinking person. If you want to talk about him, you should let me know in advance, so that I can bring a handkerchief with me to hold my nose.

Returning the Railways Minister’s compliment, Rana Sanaullah said that in 1985 Sheikh Rasheed was dirt poor and that he started his business career with gambling.

The writer studied international relations in Islamabad and media in London. He has worked for several English-language newspapers. He has written a book, Handbook of Functional English, for the benefit of those who wish to improve their English skills

Published in Daily Times, January 3^rd 2019