Of here and there

 It’s hot enough without all the scandals

I don’t perform for free but I did a couple of free shows last week because I was craving to be on stage and because there was no electricity at home; the UPS broke down; I don’t have enough money to own a generator and a concert means – an air-conditioned hall! I thought I would keep on singing and we will get to spend a few hours without being tormented by the heat but that didn’t happen either because both shows had a lot of bands. Maybe we didn’t sing too well or maybe because the political jokes that I cracked during the performances made the administration take us off stage after 30 minutes.

Anyway, even if the concerts were free, we didn’t go with the full line-up though we did still jam substantially. Hence I couldn’t get time to watch TV or read anything. Nevertheless, these are the glimpses I remember catching on TV and newspapers last week on government vs judiciary issue during my time-outs from jamming and work.

A news story revealed that after PPP shortlisted a couple of names for the new PM, Zardari called Kayani for advice and they both agreed upon Makhdoom Shahabuddin as a suitable candidate. The next morning, the court issued his warrants and PPP decided to drop Makhdoom’s name and consider other options. They again shortlisted a few people and Zardari again called Kayani but he declined to respond and the army issued a statement that they had nothing to do with the matter. This reminded me of an interview I saw once of Parbharkar, the Indian all-rounder when I was very young. He was narrating an incident from a match when he was bowling and a Pakistani batsman got out and Imran Khan came to take over the crease next. He asked the captain ‘Kapil Paji’, who was standing on either mid on or mid off, his advice on how to bowl at ‘Imran Paji’. On getting the guidelines, he bowled accordingly but Imran smashed him for a six. He returned to his bowling stance and asked Kapil Paji where he should ball now. Kapil told him exactly what to do next and he followed the captain’s instructions again but the ball was sent skyrocketing for a six again. On this Parbhakar looked back at Kapil but the captain was looking elsewhere.

I disagree with all those who are convinced that Gilani couldn’t achieve the status of the political martyrdom he eyed for. He did not after the initial 30 second sentence; but with his disqualification he, in fact, has. For those that argue that a public sick of corruption, mis-governance supported this decision and it seemed as if festivity was in the air when the decision came out, public distributed sweets and danced on bhangra beats, I do hope they remember what happened when NS was thrown out of the government. And what followed in elections 08, after his exile was over.

While the fathers stand in murky waters, I wonder what’s up with the sons of politicians; why are they mostly so stupid? Starting with Aslam Raisani’s son who got an FIR filed against him for stalking a girl to Hamza Shehbaz creating havoc at Makhdoom Javed Hashmi’s daughter’s wedding; they are all good at making money but have absolutely no idea about exercising restraint whatsoever.

Ali Musa Gilani has also recently set a new benchmark of stupidity. The popular Malik Riaz leaked footage debacle also had a phone call from Musa Gilani where he was trying to give points of discussion to Lucman and Riaz. Without getting into the details, if army is behind Malik Riaz or PPP is backing him or even if the tycoon has decided to take on CJ on his own, they are no mugs to appear on TV unprepared. As evident, nobody from the army or any higher PPP official called during the recording, nobody but the ever- so-enthused and sagacious Gilani’s son just to prove himself a wise-ass to give his pertinent advice without which the world would crumble to pieces. His advice may or may not have done any good but what it did was mar his father’s reputation further and with it the party he represents.

I don’t know if the PPP is serious about the Seraiki province or is it just an election slogan but Makhoom Shahabuddin’s failure to become the PM has certainly put the Seraiki province issue on the back burner. Because of the fact that a warrant was issued against him the very day he was to be announced as a candidate, it is apparent that the powers that be neither wanted him as PM nor do they favour the establishment of a Seraiki Province.

The rightist analysts and the judiciary should devise a plan to let go of the government till the election, even if they have to swallow a bitter pill. Because if the confrontation persists, another PM is disqualified and Zardari refuses to hold early elections, the PPP will nominate another PM. If there is already so much fuss about ‘Raja Rental’, imagine how the judiciary-media will curse themselves if – as predicted by Naji Sahib – Zardari makes Jamshed Dasti PM after Raja Pervez is disqualified.

If you all thought this piece would lead to a certain point or agenda…. Well, sorry for the disappointment.

I, however, wish to congratulate Raja Pervez Ashraf and wish him all the success in his prospectively brief tenure. I also wish to praise him for naming Sanghar House at Gojar Khan as an additional official PM residence:

Inhi patharon peh chal kar agar ho sakay tau aao

Meray ghar ki raaste mein koi kehkashan nahee hai (Mustapha Zaidi)

The writer is a member of the band Beygairat Brigade.