Was it SMQ or AAZ Speaking?
By Dr. Ghayur Ayub
London , UK
After having a meeting with Mr Holbrooke, Shah Mahmood Qureshi roared like a ‘Mujahid’ in front of the world media warning his American guest in the most undiplomatic tone. He used the word ‘I’ in his strong worded message with terms like, ‘mutual interest, respect and trust’. In the end, he solidified his avowal when he slowly turned his head towards his guest and with sarcasm on his face; he reciprocated the expression ‘blank check’ coined earlier by President Obama and repeated by Mr Holbrooke cautioning them that it worked ‘both ways’.
I wonder whether SMQ was sending such a tough message to the Americans on behalf of AAZ or himself. It doesn’t matter who the messenger is. What matters is that it might be easy to sit on the back of a lion and have a ride but it is extremely difficult to get off it. AAZ willingly offered his services to enjoy such a ride, prepared for him by general Musharaf. The latter is still licking the wounds he received as a result of dismounting the lion.
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Lashing a Young Girl
Each whip by the fanatic religious custodian that struck the buttocks of a young girl in front of a gathering in Swat was like a lash on the faces of the chief minister of NWFP, the prime minister, the president, the legislators and most importantly, every civilized Pakistani. After the punishment, the ‘brave Talib’ called the apparent guardian of the girl a ‘ Barwa’; meaning eunuch. In Pakhtun culture, ‘Barwa’ is the most serious name-calling and people have been shot on its utterance. If that Pakhtun had a sense of pride he would have turned back, taken the gun out, and shot the lasher through his head. All I can say is that that day religious grace and Pakhtun pride were both put on a disgraceful sale.
