Sports

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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Tughral | 14 years ago | Reply Country is in total Anarchy, country is now run by an incapable impotent people, declaring Sania and Shoaib as state guest shows the ability of Government which is lacking even common sense, how to use tax payers money, what a shame, more over this media has created a Hype and given Shoaib un necessary importance....

Venecia | 14 years ago | Reply I think the whole story has been given undue attention. Her marrying anyone is her personal choice. Why cover the story step by step, are there no important issues to highlight, other than these two. Please, I request the Media not to give uncessary coverage to the Sania-Shoiab wedding.

Pakistani Aaloo | 14 years ago | Reply It is a wedding. Expect people to get carried away with it. We already do it with our weddings; father's spending entire life savings on a daughter's wedding to save their izzat (read 'popularity/status). If we as a nation do it - and people who get married spending little lose their izzat - why on earth would we not expect everyone to go crazy with this? After all, they are just doing what we all do albiet on a much larger scale being celebrities and the qaum ki bahu factor.

Faizan | 14 years ago | Reply Dear All pakistanis Our Prime minister show off his status and spend nations money at dinner of state Heros only.I am very shocked please do not give any person VIP status all are equal and we take this country to announce the equality based rule but unfortunately our politicians and government service employees will change the rule of Pakistan. Therefore Balochci wants to free from this unequality rule country and makes a new nation and a country. please give us a path and a straight way and give us a passion and courage to take over this government

mohammad kamrn | 14 years ago | Reply frist thanks the express tribune that arrange such a nice comment of the sania miraza for arrival in pakistan and carray on this struggale and being a pakistani our heart is welcome to sweet bhabi sania mirza.

Nadir El Edroos | 14 years ago | Reply Can anyone recall the Indian political elite bending over backward and declaring the couple state guests???

Ali Haider | 14 years ago | Reply Why the hell are they state guests??? What the hell is wrong with our govt.????

Sikandar | 14 years ago | Reply How can the government allow itself to be a part of the mob? Don't they have any shame or dignity whatsoever? I can understand the officers required if the security threat and risk potential calls for it, but why the hell is Yousuf Gilani hosting a dinner for them? There's no purpose or justification for it, he's simply using his position to gain access to the latest headline couple. Here's some news for you Mr. Gilani, they've done more for their countries than you can ever hope to, and with a fraction of the opportunity you've been given. Enjoy your meal.

Majid Ahmed Khan | 14 years ago | Reply With great shame i am writing these few lines, who gave the authority to Pm or any other Govt. official to spend people tax paid money on the welcoming of Shoaib and Sania, Why they dont spend it on poor to give them a single meal of the day for which they shed out blood. Shame on Govt. and people welcoming these 2 guys

Mo Baba | 14 years ago | Reply With whos permission is all this being done to inconvieniance us oridnary Citizens!!! Shameful! How can the Gov't be a part of this furore.

Syed A. Mateen | 14 years ago | Reply If getting married with Shoaib Malik, Sania Mirza (Malik) has now become daughter-in-law of Pakistan. I am glad to note that media is updating its viewers minute by minute about all the movements of Soaib and Sania Malik.

Nadir El Edroos | 14 years ago | Reply By the way? Why are tax payers footing the bill for a reception of a wealthy couple? Will the Prime Minister host me and my wife when we get married in July? Why are the main arteries of the nations second largest city blocked for their convenience? Who is going to foot the bill of the 1000 policemen deployed around the hotel? Shameful! Lets see if their valima follows the newly introduced rules regarding ending wedding functions by 11 p.m.!

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