Orwellian Pakistan
In “Animal Farm”, George Orwell writes, “All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others”. There’s an Orwellian feel to recent goings-on in Pakistan, too, where not so long ago, a journo and a minister were hauled over the coals for allegedly leaking a well-known secret – that sometimes civilian leaders have the temerity to ask the military why it is loath to leash its “assets” that also do terror on the side. There was another such leak recently, this time to an international newspaper of repute, with a story based on a leak from a military durbar in which officers “grilled” the army chief about his relationship with the government and advised him not to be soft on it. But the sky didn’t fall and there were no calls for the head of the “leaker” or “planter” for trying to sow dissension in the ranks. Why? Because some “leaks” are more equal than others.
Novel escape plan
It’s been reported in the international press earlier this week that a 70-year-old man from Kansas has pleaded guilty to a bank robbery, saying he did it to escape from his wife. Lawrence Ripple robbed a Kansas City bank and then waited in the lobby until police arrived. Mr Ripple had given the bank clerk a note, demanding cash, and warning that he had a gun. He was given $ 3,000. He then went and sat down in the lobby, telling a guard to call the police. Mr Ripple had deliberately picked a bank close to a police station. When they arrived, he told the police that he would rather go to jail than go home; he now faces up to 20 years in prison.
No entry
Our mole reports that the comings and goings of “certain select hacks and hackettes” have been much reduced, nay altogether banned, at the place that was supposed to be a PR arm for the khakis. Favourites of the former head honcho have been shown the “No Entry” sign on the door, and this includes some of the worst libel mongerers on television. Better late than never.