Same old, same old
Our mole in the last apex committee meeting in Karachi, reports that Hubby conveyed a message to Bobby whereby the latter was assured that all hiring in the police department would be on merit. Following that commitment, we hear Hubby & Co managed to subvert their pledge by appointing a senior favourite from the constabulary to “do the needful”. The same old, same old started happening again – thousands of men were recruited on the recommendations of political allies and other cronies. Transfers and postings continued to be the racket that it’s been for ages. Finally, the khakis put their foot down and said that henceforth the Lone Ranger would see to recruitment, postings and transfers.
All weather friends
We hear our parliament and government’s stance in favour of neutrality as opposed to partiality in the Saudi-Yemeni conflict has caused quite a few eyebrows to be raised in the world of international diplomacy. Our mole tells us a top Arab diplomat said to one of our high officials that we had some nerve! “You’ve been taking the Saudis’ money for decades, assuring them of military support when needed. And now you’ve turned a deaf ear. You have some nerve!” Or words to that effect. A top Saudi diplomat also asked the same official, in a rhetorical question laced with sarcasm, if we would send in our forces “when the Houthis are in the Ka’aba”. A highly placed source says Pakistan’s guide and mentor in the matter of neutrality was none other than our “all weather friend”. Apparently, they “advised” us not to jump into the conflict on behalf of our “benefactors and brethren”.