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"Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong; they are the ones to attain felicity".
(surah Al-Imran,ayat-104)
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User Name: Iqbal_Hadi_Zaidi
Full Name: Iqbal Hadi Zaidi
User since: 26/Aug/2008
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Why am I pricked as against him?

H.E. Ahmed Bala G, Ambassador of Nigeria invited me to attend his country’s Golden Jubilee celebrations on Thursday 30th September, 2010 and definitely I was too happy to meet many known ambassadors and elite of the town but, at the same time, I had to plush when they asked some too piercing questions about Zardari and others.

Gone are the days when one could live in loneliness and solitude without caring about others but over the years the circumstances and environment has changed to the extent that the very concept has altogether been changed and now most if not all of us we have learnt the art of co-living. The world as a whole has shrunk into a global village, not city or even town, where everyone knows everyone and its credit goes to none but communication or more correctly to media including newspapers and television channels. Under the given situation, one does not to be at the site itself to know the ground realities rather; one is to just switch on tv and himself/herself, as per his/her choice can see as to what is going in the city, or country or even at the world at large. Those who, for any set of imagination, do not have television or cannot reach a tv set resort to news websites either through laptop, desktop or even mobile hence they are as updated as anyone else can boast of.

Ambassadors sympathized with me about the mammoth loss of property and human life due to unprecedented floods which swept greater area of the country. Some of them were really very much concerned, worried and upset about the country in general and the people in particular and their facial expressions could tell me their true inner feelings towards my beloved Pakistan. They maintained that had such large scale natural calamity hit even a super power, it would have been too difficult for the country to cope up with the situation hence it can be fully realized how much daunting task is faced up by Pakistan. They were full of praise for the countries, organizations and individuals which came forward and donated both in cash and kind to Pakistan at such an hour.

What a pity! They asked me how and why both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani are all the time giving assurances to the people that each and every penny of the aid will be spent on those who have been hit by the floods. They opined that since the aid has come for flood hit people only so none but they alone deserve and be given accordingly and they did not understand why our top brass had to give such like assurance. They simply could not understand the logic as to what prompted President and Premier to publicly announce that each and every penny will be given to the marooned populace. One of the ambassador punctuated that months back he had read in newspapers about some misappropriation of the funds when Swat was rocked. Thanks Allah, he did not remind me that our president is the same who as minister had earlier been nicked as Mr. 10%.  I was numb and dumb to hear such like comments and remarks from honorable ambassadors who knew at least the same what I know if not more about my country. I tried in vain to say that all that what comes in the press is not the whole truth but hardly any one believed me even though none cross questioned me. I thanked them individually and collectively before moving to other arena.

Luckily I landed in with African ladies who were adorned in very mystifying long and heavy dresses. Quite a good number of them spoke good English so communication was not a problem for me and them. They were a fine mixture of house wives, employees and students. One Ethiopian was very quick to ask me how Benazir Bhutto was killed. She recalled the time when she was a college student and BB was inducted as Prime Minister. She abruptly asked who killed her. Why still nobody knows who her killer is? Who else can investigate and dig out the truth if UN investigators have failed? Before I could answer her, two Egyptians, one Nigerian and one Moroccan lady joined her and they asked, almost in one voice, is Zardari going home? Why is he leaving? Who is coming next? I interrupted, not to answer them, but not to give them any chance to ask more questions. First of all I applauded them to take so much interest in Pakistan politics which is a bit rare so far as African ladies in concerned. Secondly I said that Pakistan People Party has won by majority so constitutionally speaking Zardari who heads PPP is to complete five years term and he is neither quitting nor will quit unless and until he rules for the stipulated period of time. The real problem is that power hungry are drumming up that he is going or likely to go. They and they alone are after his blood otherwise there is nothing against him.

Now I felt like eating so I excused with the women and took a plate to eat dinner. An unknown Kuwaiti was next to me in the queue so we exchanged greetings before we could be near to the food. He, as usual, said he is very happy to meet me. We chatted in very light mood till he took some salad and I filled a soup bowl. We came on a side and introduced each other. He was surprised to know that I am here even before his birth. He asked for my permission, if not annoying, to know about clash between administration and judiciary. My goodness, such a young Kuwaiti is so much interested to know about Pakistan which is not its next door neighbor in any case. He asked me if I have ever heard of any clash between Supreme Court of Kuwait and Amir of Kuwait since I flew in here in 1978. Now he had created very embarrassing and awkward position for me and I, instead of sipping soup, got engaged to praise Kuwait for the harmony and congeniality prevailing between Supreme Court and Amir. He thanked me for the sweet words I spoke about Kuwait but being too curious, he asked me to spell out why and how SC and President have differences? I being a law graduate simply could not defend my president though I definitely wished to side with him as long as I use green passport but on what grounds. I told Kuwaiti, let us enjoy food rather than politics and he did agree with me but nevertheless his eyes were looking for an answer who would govern when SC issues verdict against the present set up.

Why did I come to the function, if I had to swallow quinine? How could I be cornered for none of my fault? How had you handled it, may I dare ask?

                ************************************

With my honest and solemn prayers.

Sincere Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Former Diplomat / Kuwait                                                                                                                     

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