All hands on deck
Rumour has it that the khakis in South Punjab are taking an active interest in the placement of babus related to their anti-terrorism offensive; some say they have virtually taken over postings and transfers. Also, the top khaki in Punjab’s capital was conspicuously present at the funeral of those killed in the Police Lines suicide bombing of February 17, and was disappointed to see that The Man of Steel’s Talented Bro had not shown up. In a subsequent meeting, we hear the top khaki told his civilian counterparts that there was no mention at the official level of attendance at the funeral, and that if “they” had gone ahead and issued a press release, there would’ve been howls of protest from the government. As we also know, the Lahore Literary Festival was almost called off last week, on grounds of insecurity. An nth hour call by PPP’s Senator AA to The Man of Steel persuaded the latter that security should be enhanced but the LitFest should go on. A well-connected friend of the LitFest, offspring of a respected former Army Chief, also called the city’s top khaki to ensure improved security. Finally, the event was a huge success, with many foreign participants, and an example of what can be achieved when all hands are on deck.
No can do
As we know, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour of the liberal-secular, Taliban-ravaged Awami National Party, has offered $ 200,000 as head money for the owner of the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo that published blasphemous caricatures and was attacked on January 7, 2015, by two French-Algerian gunmen, killing 12 people. We hear the French government has formally protested to the government of Pakistan with the latter refusing to comment, simply saying, “sorry, no can do.”