The US ambassadors effort to win the hearts and mind of Lahoris by having breakfast in open air at a popular eating joint in Lahore cantonment was a great success. The gesture went down with the Lahoris just like the halwa puri on the menu does. His Excellency seemed to enjoy this high calorie diplomacy as did the media there to record every minute and morsel. Such publicity suddenly put the restaurant on the must visit list of those who go to eat where they can see and, more importantly, can also be seen. By the afternoon the restaurant had acquired a clientele never before seen in the vicinity. But all good things must come to an end. At 3 pm, the restaurant had done roaring business and one group that vacated the open air table that the US ambassador had occupied earlier that morning just got up to pay the bill when suddenly there was a crashing sound. Lo and behold, the restaurants upper make shift roof came crashing down. It was no sabotage but one theory has it that the heavy hidden security for the US ambassadors visit that morning had taken its toll. The restaurants flimsy roof was never meant to take such a load of pot bellied security personnel. It just could not take the weight of fame. However one must give the roof some credit for such good timing.
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Former President Pervez Musharraf may have a love-hate relation with India but when it comes to the US, it is quite a different story. It is pure love and admiration which it seems may have rubbed off on the Pakistani expatriates in that land of the democracy loving and democracy exporting. Recently generalissimo did the party rounds, recruiting and fund raising for his brand of the Muslim League. He was seen hopping from one state in the US to another, with the versatile Dr Naseem Ashraf acting as his guardian angel. At one such gathering in Washington an admirer asked rather a ticklish question. Why dont you join hands with the charismatic Imran Khan. Musharraf replied quite candidly, Imran Khan is welcome to join me. Taali aik haath se naheen bajti. So, what say you, Mr. Khan?
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It seems that come election time, the boys at Gymkhana Club, Lahore turn out to be no gentlemen. The rivalry and accusations get intense, tempers flare up and there is always an incident that has members shaking their heads in shame. Last week, the pressure of elections, the allegations and counter allegations took another nasty turn. One nawab sahib was actually slapped by another in full view of an audience. Both combatants are former members of the clubs managing committee and both are deeply embedded in the club politics. But are they both gentlemen? Now that is quite another matter.
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