MYSTERIOUS CLAIMS: This is with reference to the report “PTI ‘rues’ Bushra’s remarks at critical juncture” (Nov 22). One would like to know whether the foreign (leader) first called the former army chief and then gave gifts to the former prime minister and his wife, or whether the gifts were given before the telephone call. Furthermore, why did the couple not return the gifts to the foreign dignitaries once the call was made? And, why did they continue receiving gifts on subsequent visits?

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 7, 2024

https://www.dawn.com/news/1877247/mysterious-claims

 

Zahid Shaikh, my NED college friend, died yesterday after a year-long struggle against cancer at the age of 79. He had been operated for prostate cancer about ten years back, but last year his bladder had also been affected by cancer and it had to be removed. Yesterday he died suddenly after a minor surgery. Three years back, his elder brother Abid (also my friend) passed away due to Covid.

I don't think I've known anyone as gifted as Zahid. He was a fantastic person. He could paint, write, sing, play music and he could mimic anyone on earth. Of course, he was a highly successful engineer as well. I was with him a lot until 1974, when he left for the US.

I've often wondered why people get cancer. Zahid never smoked or drank alcohol, two things which are responsible for cancer in most people. I asked him why he, of all people, got it. He thought it was due to the processed food that most Americans eat. If that's the reason, why hasn't Trump got it?

Whatever the reason, it's apparent that anyone can be stricken by cancer, even those who are very careful about what they eat or drink. Rest in peace, my friend. I'll never forget you.

Party over country

Saturday, Nov 30, 2024

This letter refers to the editorial ‘PTI’s chaos curve’ (November 25, 2024). The problem is that, in the aftermath of these violent marches, the state seems reluctant to take action against the party’s senior leadership. The major question is: why did they march on the capital when foreign dignitaries were visiting Pakistan?

Is it necessary to invade Islamabad to invite attention to their demands? This party has lost support in the country (except in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where it is slowly becoming unpopular). Why not spend the same time, money and energy to solve the problems faced by the people of that province?

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi

Printed in The News, November 30, 2024

https://e.thenews.com.pk/detail?id=363773

 

The "do or die" protest ended with a whimper just two days after the long march to Islamabad began. The blame for this will be laid squarely on Imran's third wife (Bushra) for not listening to party leaders, including Imran Khan, who also advised her to gather at Sangjani instead of D-chowk. Of course, none of this would have happened if Imran (a psychopath) had not married her. This woman is supposed to have advised Imran Khan over the past five years when he was the prime minister. It was due to her insistence that he appointed a man of her choice to run the largest province in the country. With her man in charge, she managed to loot the country and this ultimately resulted in Imran Khan's ouster. Yesterday, she and Ali Amin Gandapur (chief minister of KP) fled in one car after police began firing at the protestors, most of whom fled from the scene in panic, some of them even leaving their cars behind. Gandapur himself had claimed that he wouldn't leave even if bullets were fired at him. Now he has a lot of explaining to do to those whom he persuaded to join the march. He should be removed from the party immediately if there is any accountability in it.

There are many lessons to be learnt from this fiasco. The first is that  Imran's party is not as popular as it may have been before, and I'm firmly convinced that the recent elections were rigged so his party could rule in one province. His popularity is limited to the society begums and their husbands in some urban areas of the country as well as young Pathans in KP. With the ignominious retreat yesterday by Bushra and Gandapur, I doubt if his party can win elections in future. Now the government should step in, persuade disgruntled PTI members to resign and hold bye-elections. The party has been routed in recent local bodies elections, and I'm sure it will lose in bye-elections as well.

Even though the current march to Islamabad has only a quarter of those in previous marches, this time it has succeeded in causing a few deaths already (on the second day). Islamabad residents face a tough time, with prices of edibles shooting up and petrol stocks almost zero. This should make the government think again before imposing a total lockdown in future.

It's confirmed now that Imran Khan agreed to hold the sit-in (dharna) in the suburbs, but his wife (Bushra, the shameless one) insisted on demonstrating in the centre of the city, despite advice to the contrary from almost the entire leadership. Bushra wants to take over the party, which is why Imran's sisters have stayed back this time. 

It should now be obvious that Imran Khan is out to destroy the country. This has happened once before, in 1971. At that time, the establishment refrained from doing what it should have done. I hope the mistake is not repeated this time. If Imran Khan has his way, there will be no Pakistan. The country will be divided again, with Imran Khan being the prime minister of KP. It will be disastrous for the country, with thousands being killed. Let's hope the authorities act decisively against the rebels this time.

There was a time, long ago, when men were valued for their intellect and wisdom. Teachers, particularly, were regarded highly, even though most of them were poor. But as the years went by, and educated people increased, they were thought to be unsuccessful because they didn't have money to live a luxurious life. Not any more. Though nowadays some teachers are highly paid, the general perception is that wealthy people are successful, even though they may have acquired too much wealth but are unhealthy and illiterate.

A cousin of mine (who died of diabetes at the age of 69) suddenly became very rich. He bought a large house, expensive cars and started spending a great deal on restaurants and traveling to foreign countries. There were rumors that he had made his money by putting narcotics in his consignments of food stuff being exported to Sri Lanka. He became a highly respected figure in our community (because of his wealth). The mistake he made was in not caring for his health. Both he and his wife developed diabetes, with the wife losing both her legs before dying a horrible death. Before he died, he survived for two years on money borrowed from relatives and friends.

There's another illiterate young relative who's become a billionaire. He's taken to drinking, and he thinks his wealth will make him a leading figure among his relatives. I could tell him that I've seen billionaires becoming paupers overnight, but it won't have any effect on him. 

 

  

Published on November 3^rd, 1996

 

Those who have access to the Internet got the news of the massive devaluation of the rupee at nine in the morning. By ten o' clock practically the whole country had heard about it. But our worthy Minister of State for Finance, a past master at presenting back-breaking budgets, was totally unaware of it, even at noon on the same day.

Surely this is the kind of thing that can happen only in BB's Pakistan. If she can choose people like him, no wonder the country is in such a sorry state.

At the very least, all these ministers and advisers should be made to repay the salaries and allowances that they have taken from the national exchequer. 

 Published on March 22^nd, 1995

NEWS item: 30 killed in Karachi on the Independence Day. The President goes duck-shooting in Sindh.

News Item: 20 killed in Imambargah. The President flies off to perform Umra.

News Item: 7 killed in a house one day before Eid. The President celebrates Eid with usual fervour and rejoicing.

New Item: 2 Americans killed in Karachi. The President is shokced and announces that he will personally monitor the investigations into the killing.

No comment.

 Published in The Friday Times on March, 2005

At No time in history (except perhaps before the crash of 1929) have stock prices risen so spectacularly as in the past two months on the KSE. According to KSE chief, the surge is not artificial. We know that no huge oil reserves have been discovered, there have been no dramatic changes in the profitability of the PTCL. Six months ago, the Balochistan crisis would have caused the market to plunge by at least a thousand points. We should not forget the surges have always been followed by steep declines. One can only pray that the small investors don't go bankrupt in case of a crash.

 

Published in The News on October 2^nd, 2000

First, it was purported Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report published in Indian newspapers, followed by rumours about thousands of wealthy Pakistanis queuing outside western embassies begging for visas to get out of the country. And for the past six weeks or so a story has been making the rounds about a study conducted by the US Defence Deparment predicting a nuclear exchange between Pakistan and India, and the eventual disintegration of Pakistan by 2010.

This study has been quoted by almost every columnist in the country. I'm sure all those columnists who make use of such alarmist studies and reports in their columns are staunch patriots and have only the good of the country at heart, but one does wish that they would at least look upon the bright side occasionally. Like, for instance, the news that Edhi received an award the other day, or that we have men like Edhi at all, or even that the press in Pakistan is still free despite frequent criticism of the military government.

One columnist even compares the current situation to that prevailing in 1971 in erstwhile East Pakistan. But that was a different matter altogether. Every Pakistani who read foreign newspapers or listened to the BBC at the time knew that Pakistan's position was grim. But even after the fall of Dhaka, the Indians anticipated that what remained of Pakistan would soon break up into four separate units. This did not happen, as we know. Should we attribute our survival to luck or to the incompetence of our foes? Shouldn't we be grateful that despite the rampant corruption of politicians and others, we have managed to endure?

In April, columnist James Clad of the Washington Post prediccted the disintegration of India. He said, "I found evidence of abuses by security forces too numberous to doubt. The steady breakdown of national cohesion is strikingly reflected in the political parties campaign. These include appeals to Hindu fanaticism and caste unity."

I have not seen this article quoted in any Indian newspaper, perhaps because their journalists are mature enough to ignore such alarming reports about their country.

As for those who write of wealthy Pakistanis migrating overseas, the Canadian Embassy has issued 3,000 visas to such people. Mind you, each of these 3,000 Pakistanis had to transfer to Canada the equivalent of US$ 300,000 before being considered for the L-1 visa. I don't know about Canada, but I doubt if there are many Pakistanis who have the equivalent of three hundred thousand dollars "white money" (income on which income tax has been paid).

Clearly, most of those who can pay such an amount (plus visa charges, lawyer's fees, etc.) are not the types who declare their true income. It would be interesting to know if the Canadian government (which is so fond of lecturing to us on the need for restoring "civil" government) did anything to verify if the amounts remitted to Canada by the visa seekers were earned legally. (For all you know, some of the visa applicants may have been involved in the narcotics trade).

If Pakistan requests the Canadian government, I'm sure they will confiscate such illegally earned money and speedily return it to us, assuming that their love for democracy has not unduly clouded their sense of justice.

By Shakir Lakhani