Shoania: Pakistan's state guests


Express April 22, 2010

KARACHI: Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza arrived in Islamabad on Thursday night as 'state guests' of Pakistan, although a dinner with prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani that was to be scheduled in their honour has been postponed.

Earlier, Shoaib and Sania were received by Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister Rashid Rabbani and Provincial Sports Minister Mohammad Ali Shah at Karachi Airport. They were also presented traditional gifts of a Sindhi cap and Ajrak.

A reception was also arranged for Shoaib and Sania at the office of the deputy director of Federal Investigation Agency.

Later, speaking to the media, Sania Mirza said she was honoured to have such a reception on her arrival in Karachi.

Meanwhile, security measures have been completed in Lahore with regard to their valima.

About a thousand police officials will be deployed to ensure that the event takes place smoothly. The couple is scheduled to arrive in Karachi today and they will reach Lahore on the 23rd of April.

The Mall Road will be closed when Shoaib and Sania's valima will take place. While the Davis Road and the Sundar Das Road will be utilized as parking areas. Only the close relatives of the bride and the groom will be allowed to park inside the hotel's parking area.

SP Civil Lines Haider Ashraf said while speaking about the arrangements for the function, that upto 800 guests are expected to be present at the ceremony. The strict policy of one dish will also be implemented.

COMMENTS (14)

Ameer Hamza | 14 years ago | Reply I see no reason why our media is going haywire with Shoib's valima. He is not a superstar cricketer. And he does not enjoy widespread popularity among the masses as does Afridi or Yosuf. And he is still banned. Moreover, apart from one cricketer no one has publicly congratulated him for his marriage. Jealousy? Likely. But it is very clear to me that Pakistani media, like the dead-brain Indian media, is just being carried away. And people are loving it. For they have no source of happiness at present. And electric problems and economic voes of contributed immensely to this drama. When this media honeymoon subsides, I think Sania will feel that her decision has come a bit quicker than it should have been.
Yusef Gallina | 14 years ago | Reply Im sorry but being from Australia i cannot undertand the hype surrounding these two people. Both of them hit a ball with a bat. Why do people love them so much??? Fine if you like cricket or tennis but they do nothing for the world... the government should be ashamed of its actions. The media should also be ashamed as they do not distinguish intellectuals in such a manner as they should. Sport is fun... but win lose or draw Pakistan is lost in a game, and the ordinary people will always suffer as a result. The media is to blame for this... and the government is only feeding from this popularity circus. Wake up people !!!
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