Off the record
This week’s interaction between Pakistani media, the Foreign Minister and officials of the British Foreign Office has been well documented. What has not been reported is an off the record aside of an angrez official, chatting informally about the BBC’s recent story, “Uncovering Pakistan’s secret human rights abuses”. The official commented that it was a “sobering read” and “hair raising”. The story documents the reasons for the rise of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement and its suppression by the state. We hear there’s been a howl of protest from our side, taking issue with the Beeb.
Between rock & hard place
When the textile industry learnt that they were going to be saddled with 17% General Sales Tax, as per the Budget, there was a predictable uproar. Their first port of call, naturally, was the Min of Fin who apparently informed them that the Budget had been signed and sealed with the I Am Effed, and that he couldn’t change the 17% GST provision to “16.65%, even if he wanted to!” So the textile tycoons went to the Paterfamilias who instructed the Min of Fin to work out a solution, knowing well that the tycoons could cause disruption with strikes and closures. The Min of Fin is between a rock and a hard place.
Broken heart
Sources say former strongman Mush is seriously ill with a combination of ailments, most likely a malignancy and Parkinson’s disease. One of his carers had an interesting take on his illness, “if you ask me”, he said, “he’s dying of a broken heart.”