Cooler climes
As soon as The Man of Steel quit the oppressive heat of Isloo and arrived in the cool climes of Murree, he was inundated with phone calls from friends at home and abroad. There were the expected phone calls from the Land of Sand, and neighbouring princely states. There was also a call from Hill & Bill, old friends from his second tenure. Lest we forget, it was Bill who secured The Man’s release from Mush in 2000 and prevailed upon Al-King to give him safe passage. Then there was a long and supportive call from Mera Sultan, the latter having faced off the machinations of the state not too long ago himself.
Across classes
It’s interesting to see the fallout of the Panama Case decision across the classes. The lower orders, certainly in Central and Northern Punjab, appear sympathetic to The Man of Steel and feel that he has been unfairly dismissed. The middle classes and upper middles generally feel that justice has been done. The narrowness of the verdict doesn’t bother the latter. It still came as a surprise, however, to see the gallery of the Supreme Court packed with the adjudicators’ families and the spontaneous cheering that broke out the minute the verdict was announced.
Whistle blower
The whistle blower and nemesis of The Great Khan, AG, has no intention of joining The Man of Steel’s party. She has been in talks with the nationalists for months and will be joining their ranks before long.