Periscope on Pakistan

Masood Azhar meets Mullah Umar: Quoted in daily Pakistan, father of Maulana Masood Azhar said that his son had gone to Kandahar in Afghani...

Masood Azhar meets Mullah Umar: Quoted in daily Pakistan, father of Maulana Masood Azhar said that his son had gone to Kandahar in Afghanistan to see his Taliban leader Mullah Umar. He had done so immediately after getting married.

Pakhtunkhwa anthem condemned: Daily Khabrain reported that on the birthday of late Abdul Ghaffar Bacha8217; Khan an ANP gathering in Nowshehra NWFP heard the special Pakhtunkhwa anthem. Speakers said that it was Bacha Khan who was responsible for the reaction of Pakistan. The paper quoted many persons objecting to the playing of Pakhtunkhwa anthem at the meeting.

Ali Haider in trouble: According to Khabrain, singer Ali Haider offended the public by singing a naat praise of the Prophet PBUH on TV in which he kept using the pronouns tum8217; you and tu8217; thou. Many people rang up the paper to say that he be punished for doing so.

Hoti hot on Indian filmstars: Quoted by Khabrain, Zeba Khan, claiming to be ANP leader Azam Hoti8217;s wife, said that Hoti had relations with Pakistani and Indian filmstars.

Four million take heroin: Quoted in Nawa-e-Waqt, regional director of Anti-Narcotics Task Force Brig Riazullah Khan said that Pakistan8217;s heroin addicts had increased from 3 million in 1993 to 4 million, and fully 1.7 million belonged to Punjab. Out of the total, 12 per cent were students.

Ex-caretaker PM be barred: According to Jang, Qazi Hussain Ahmad of Jamaat Islami stated that ex-caretaker PM Moeen Qureshi was in the habit of coming to Pakistan and interfering in every crisis. He said Mr Qureshi had no right to do so and should be barred from coming to Pakistan.

Elections may be partyless: Quoted in daily Din, federal adviser Javed Jabbar said that the next elections would be either based on proportional representation or be partyless.

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Real Man of 20th Century: A Khabrain column revealed that Allama Tahirul Qadri of Pakistan Awami Tehreek was proclaimed as Man of the Year and Outstanding Man of the 20th Century by two Britain-based biographical organisations. It said the two organisations did this on payment of a fee.

God keep us together8217;: According to Nawa-e-Waqt, Pakistani film star Reema took part in an Indian TV programme and made the seditious remark, God keep us together8217;. She also said that India and Pakistan had the same culture and language, which violated the Penal Code of Pakistan.

Nuggets From the Urdu Press in The Friday Times.