PM to UN

Mr. Omar Malik (NewsPost 16 September 2011) asks the Prime Minister,” How can you expect others to donate when they see such abhorrent display of extravagance by our Senators and MNAs?”  Little did he know that the PM is leading an 80 strong entourage of politicians, journalists and others to the UN this year just to address the General Assembly for about half an hour and meet only one head of the state that is of Iran on the side lines. Would they all be needed there to assist the PM in his speech and the solitary meeting? What are our Embassy and UN mission doing there?  Can’t they do the needful for the PM for both these events, so that the PM could travel ‘lightly’? How much is the poor taxpayer going to pay for the more than a week long sojourn of these 80 free loaders?   I only wish they are not booked in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel at USD 1000/= a night ?

This is what they call “maal e muft,  dil e beyrahm” !

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)