The World Punjabi Congress is quite active in promoting Punjabi culture and bringing together Punjabis on both sides of the barbed wire. But how Punjabi culture is interpreted is often left to the sponsors and honoured guests. Recently, a rich sponsor hosted a musical evening at his Raiwind farm house as part of this activity. It was well attended with conspicuous attendance from politicos and guests from Indian Punjab. Invited to promote Punjabi songs was vocalist Zille Huma who did what she does best. That is sing her mother Malika-e-Tarannum Nur Jehans popular numbers. However, the sponsor had a brilliant idea. Accompanying the songs were professional dancers who began gyrating to music much like leaner versions of our Punjabi movie belles. While many appreciated the performance there were some, especially the urban politicians who became uncomfortable, especially when they noted that the place was crawling with reporters and photographers. Finally PPPs Jehangir Badar took the lead and requested that the dancers be seated. The singing went on and some even missed the dancers but it became quite clear that there are several interpretations of culture and mujra may not fit in with some. A Punjabi bhanghra maybe?
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When a man builds a business empire whose budget is almost as big as that of a country, it is not surprising that his own lifestyle changes just a little. This week Malik Riaz of Bahria Town projects celebrated the opening of a five-star hotel in Bahria Golf City on the outskirts of Islamabad. It was a mega show of lifestyle with a golf course stretching over two valleys connected by a tunnel, roads and houses right out of a dream and a castle up on the hill belonging to the boss himself. The place was crawling with bureaucrats, diplomats and VIPs. However the chief guest was two hours late and guess who it was? It was the host Malik Riaz himself.
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Come back we have a role for you now. It seems the ruling party has rediscovered barrister Aitzaz Ahsan or at least PPPs vital signs point to such a situation. Shunned by the boss for not toeing the party line unambiguously, Aitzaz had also kept his distance. He was a member but for some time had not been invited to the CEC meetings. Perhaps AZ felt that Aitzaz should line up behind him on issues regarding the judiciary in the Awan and Khosa style to which he is accustomed.
That was then, this is now. Last week, the situation changed dramatically. Not only was he invited to the recent CEC moot, he was also repeatedly consulted in the process. However the real honour was yet to come. At the recent ZAB barsi, Aitzaz was asked to sit next to AZ at dinner on a seat that had earlier been reserved for Bilawal. Some say that Babar Awan did not look very happy or comfortable with the seating hierarchy. But then every black coat has his day.
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