The solar power plant inauguration in Bahawalpur was quite a show, wasn’t it? ‘Seeing is believing’, khadim-e-aala always says. That’s probably why the N-league flew an airbus load of journos, anchors, media dons, you name it, to witness the landmark event. But were they in for a disappointment. Seeing how the Sharifs arrived separately, all they got was a ringside view of the boasts, followed by a quick meal in a marriage hall, and then it was back to the VVIP flight back home. Shaking hands with the Sharifs was a far thing, they didn’t even get to talk to them. One journo even had a heat stroke. Another nailed it when the leaders’ lack of attention left him wishing he’d watched the ceremony on TV. Even the locals were unimpressed, seeing how Bahawalpur is the habitat of dignitaries. Not much of a media spin, after all, by N’s info functionaries.
*****
Former Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani’s been doing some research again lately. Seems his Bahawalpur province overdrive goes active now and then, when his calculations deem it opportune enough. And he’s making some interesting findings. For example, Lahore makes for 17 percent of Punjab’s population, yet takes more than 60 percent of the resources. Similar discrepancies are found everywhere. Other provinces have complaints as well. Now that ought to beef up the resume one more time. There’s a lot of posturing to be done considering how the politics is played out. And, if nothing else, there’s an Altaf Hussain of Punjab coming to the fore.