A new low
They say incentive makes the mare go. And vice versa. When you dis-incentivise a group of people, The Great Khan’s horde in this case, they have no reason to perform, or desist from malpractice. The latter is so widespread that it is the talk of town. Every town and city in this Land of the Pure. From influentials not paying their bills (kids’ school fees, grocery store charges, clothes costs, you name it) to selling transfers, postings and the pettiest of government jobs, The Khan’s horde has touched a new low. Take the highest state functionary in the most populous province – the gent is asking for land to be transferred to his Foundation, and funds to be given to it, in lieu of honorary degrees and other awards within his command. And there are many others in this august list – ministers, advisors, political heavyweights.
Our mole asked one gent with sticky fingers and a disdain of public service, if he didn’t plan to fight the next elections. “Of course I’ll contest,” he said brazenly, “those who got me through last time will do so again”. What a disincentive!
Sleepless nights
The legionnaire now famous for his pizzas told a journo that he has sleepless nights, given the way he has been lampooned across the country. Apparently, he confessed that he has to have recourse to sleeping pills and is deeply hurt at the way his “services to the nation” are being repaid.
Below the radar
The buzz in Karachi is that an Emirati VIP paid a hush-hush visit to the late, lamented Big Ben’s family on the occasion of her daughter’s wedding. He met Big Ben’s hubby, the bride and groom and Billy The Kid. He presented the newly weds with lavish gifts, congratulated them and left without so much as a nod to those who rule us these days. It is said his visit was a rebuff to our rulers and stayed well below the radar.
Unacceptable!
While talk of a national government is everywhere, there’s no consensus on who might lead it. The Man of Steel is adamant that he does not want his party to shoulder the burden of a flailing economy. He is happy, we hear, to let Billy The Kid take the lead. But here’s the rub – even Bill is unacceptable now, given his “democratic compulsions”. They would rather have Raja Rental heading the show!
