Ironing of history
The irony of history! Here we have Their Majesties’ loyal opposition bending over backwards to accept – nay, renew – their nominee to the perch at the NABbers’ HQ, and there we have The Great Khan playing the naysayer. Of course, as per habit, he will demur for a bit and then succumb to “their” orders, but for the moment he’s not agreeing to a renewal of the present incumbent’s term.
The Great Khan’s favourite for the slot is a man of unimpeachable integrity, it has to be said, but he is not a favourite with Their Majesties. We hear the latter have convinced The Man of Steel’s Talented Bro to accept him, and of course the late lamented Big Ben’s Hubby, who will do as he is told. Recently, Their Majesties asked The Great Khan to meet his favourite, who serves as a deputy at the NABbers’ HQ, and give him his marching orders. To the contrary, The Khan had an hour long closed doors meeting with his favourite and assured him of his support. Their Majesties are now busy trying to persuade The Great Khan to obey orders. The “ironing” of history, as The Man of Steel might say in his column, Ittefaqnama!
RIP, Wajid Shams Ul Hassan
If ever there was an old world gentleman whose whole demeanour spoke of the Muslim Ashrafia of yore, it was Wajid Shams ul Hassan. He died recently in London having lived out a long career as a journalist and diplomat, serving as Pakistan’s High Commissioner in London in his last posting. He was close to Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, who first appointed him Pakistan’s HC in London, and Mian Nawaz Sharif also respected Wajid Sahab’s democratic credentials. This is why he also served as Mr Sharif’s High Commissioner in London. So, there was a bipartisan consensus on the man’s worth.
That worth was also manifest in his personal decisions. Some years ago, the London-based granddaughter of the late Raja Sahab of Mahmudabad went to the High Commission for a difficult task. Not only did Wajid Sahab immediately facilitate her, he was at the door waiting for her arrival. He personally escorted her in, did all she needed while she was served tea and escorted her out of the High Commission, standing in the porch until her car turned the corner. A colleague asked him, “what is special about this lady? Why have you gone out of your way?” Wajid Sahab answered in his rich timbered voice, “Pakistanis may have forgotten what her grandfather did for Mr Jinnah, the incipient Musim League and for the state of Pakistan, but I have not. Without men like the Raja Sahab of Mahmudabad, Pakistan would not have come into existence.”
