ZAB Anniversary

ZAB’s death anniversary was certainly an impressive event by any count. All those who mattered had dutifully paid their homage in person to the great leader. Lots of flowers and floral wreaths were placed upon the grave before they offered fateha for the departed soul.  They travelled from far and near by train, air and helicopters which must have cost them substantial amount.

Somehow, it reminded me of Eisenhower’s First of the Month “Meet the Press” of November 1955. I was a young officer doing a course at Fort Monmouth N.J. USA and watched the whole episode live on the TV.  Eisenhower briefed the media about his visit to Paris where he had attended an important NATO conference.  After his address there was the usual question answer session. Somewhere at the back an impatient looking  lady reporter was frantically waving her arm for a question and the President obliged her.  “Is it true, Mr. President, that the Presidential Plane returning from Paris went first to Gettysburg  to disembark the First Lady there and then returned to Washington DC?”,  she enquired scathingly .  There was a hush in the hall and the plight of the most powerful man on earth was worth seeing. The cameras zoomed in till only his face filled in the entire TV screen.  His lips went dry and in the cold of November perspiration beads appeared over his bald pate.  He could hardly stammer,” Oh -- yea  – yea --  it is true, she was not feeling well – and -- and I am prepared to reimburse the cost for the extra flight to the exchequer”.  The reporter shot back, “No, no Mr. President, I just wanted to know that it had happened.  I am sure Uncle Sam can afford such a luxury for the First Lady”.

I know, Pakistan and its poor masses can also gladly afford such luxuries to their rulers for the national events of such import.

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)