IT was more like a large celebration under siege. It was no ordinary celebration, neither a king’s birthday nor a queen’s coronation anniversary. But the 226th anniversary of the independence of the most powerful state in the world, which once used to be celebrated with a great deal of fanfare in an atmosphere of freedom.
John Bauman, the Consul General of the United States of America, had to play host alone, as wives of American diplomats have already left Pakistan for safety reasons. Bauman described the Independence Day as a big ‘community holiday’ in the US, Thanks Giving Day is the ‘family holiday’ and Christmas is a ‘religious holiday’.
The road leading to 1 Fatima Jinnah Road, where the Consul General’s house is situated, was closed the day before, for vehicles and pedestrians. So was the Frere Gardens and Abdullah Haroon Road where the US Consulate is situated. There were road blocks all around Fatima Jinnah Road, where the cars were vigorously checked. Also, the guests were asked for their cards as they zigzagged their way passed armoured personnel carriers and other security vehicles to the lawn of the reception.
There were policemen, rangers and a whole lot of other security personnel dotting the road, while tough US marines, in their fatigues were conspicuous within the reception area. Bauman, who stood alone as most of his colleagues had already left the country, said he wasn’t sure if the response to his invitation would be very good and feared that security concerns would hold many people, including the women, back. But they responded gallantly and demonstrated full faith in the security arrangements of the US. He was delighted and said so in his speech welcoming the Governor.
According to Bauman a decision was taken in April to go ahead with the Independence Day celebrations as usual. The decision was reviewed after the blast that killed the French Naval engineers on May 8th. And then again after the blast outside the US Consulate on June 14th. Still, it was decided to go ahead with the celebrations as usual. The only exception made was the fireworks, which at times marked the celebration, were not there.
Governor Mohammadmian Soomro came early and was thanked by Bauman for it. He expressed his joy over the increasing Pakistan - US cooperation and expanding friendship. Bauman thanked the security team headed by Home Secretary, Brigadier Mukhtar Ahmed, I.G. Sindh Kamal Shah, Inspector General of the Frontier Corps and the D.G. Rangers.
Among the large number of guests that turned up was also the Federal Minister for Environment, Shahida Jamil and her husband. The Sindh Government was represented by the Health Minister, Major General (retd) Ahsan Ahmed and the Agriculture Minister Hasan Ali Chanio. Among the political parties, the PPP was well represented by former Chief Ministers Aftab Shaban Mirani and Qaim Ali Shah, both very well dressed. Secretary General of PPP, Raza Rabbani was there. Zia Isphani was persuading Zeba Bakhtiar to join the PPP and he assured her that she could go a long way, like him, if she did. He said she had the intelligence, education and the talent, qualities which she pointed out were not valued by political parties. Meanwhile she has become a producer.
Former Federal Minister, Captain Halim Siddique had a word with Nafees Siddique, whom he will be challenging in the National Assembly elections.
The MQM was represented by Nasrin Jalil, her husband M.A. Jalil and Dr Farooq Sattar. Will the MQM be contesting the elections and where will these leaders be contesting the elections from? Ready answers were not forthcoming.
Another young lady who was there was Sharmeela Farooque, daughter of Usman Farooque, former Chairman of the Pakistan Steel Mills. She was there with her mother.
Educational institutions too were well represented. Mr Danishmand, the new director of IBA along with Mr Javad Leghari of SZABIST were there. Mr Leghari claimed that four thousand students apply for admission to his business school while only three hundred are admitted.
Banks were represented by Zakir Mehmood of Habib Bank which the Agha Khan Fund wants to get hold of and is making a bid for. Shaukat Tarin of the Union Bank was also there. Having merged Emirates Bank with his own bank, he is now trying to get hold of MCB but the bid is too low.
The US Information chief, Lonnie Kelly was there after a brief absence from the city. But he was not in the receiving line and moved around meeting people. In his absence, his staff took care of the work. A few bearded religious leaders were also there, which surprised a few guests. They were reminded by others that in the earlier days of the Taliban, when they were not such a bad word, they were also seen at American official dinners.
Shams Lakha, who is the Chairman of the Committee on Education, set up by the government, was there defending the policies of the government to a number of journalists.
Nawabzada Nasrullah
Nawabzada Nasrullah is a political leader that the opposition cannot do without. In his early nineties, he may not be cement that binds the opposition together, but he is certainly the glue who often holds them together. And he makes it a point not to hold them too tight less their ranks crack up. But holds them loosely with a greater purpose in mind. And they, on their part, let go of his minor lapses and even major slips, knowing fully well that they are not wilful and are not aimed at any self-serving purpose. He may at times join the ranks of the government, again loosely, as he did when he became advisor on Kashmir Affairs with the rank of a minister and enjoyed his ride in the luxurious Lexus, though that was the preference of his son. And the Romeo and Juliet cigars, instead of the trade mark hokka. But now he is back to leading the opposition game as Chairman of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, backing him are including the PPP of Benazir Bhutto and PML(N) of Nawaz Sharif with varying reservations.
Recently Nawabzada Nasrullah was at a lunch hosted by Nafis Siddique, future PPP candidate for the National Assembly, along with the leadership of the party and other supportive political entities. The rule at his house is, if you don’t sing for your supper, you have to talk to the press for lunch and that is what Nawabzada enjoys. When asked a question about Kashmir, he spoke for over forty-minutes forgetting all other issues and spoke of minute details of the negotiations since the days of Mahraja Hari Singh and Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. His memory amazed the journalists and political leaders and made them realize why he is able to become the leader for uniting the opposition from time to time.
Age has not dimmed his memory, although General Musharraf urges Nawabzada to retire and enjoy his well-earned rest. He also exhibited his sense of humour with its rural setting and carried the day. PPP leaders flanking him included Makhdoom Amin Faheem, Aftab Shaban Mirani, Qaim Ali Shah, would be Chief Minister Nisar Khuro, N.D. Khan and Naveed Qamar. PML was represented by Ejaz Shafi. Other leaders included Bostan Ali Hoti, Vice President of the National Peoples Party, Abdul Sami Khan, Zia Abbas and Muzzafar Hashmi of Jaamat-e-Islami.
All the party leaders despite their usual disagreements are able to get together smoothly, especially now as the power rests with the army and they do not know who among them will be able to become partners in sharing power after the elections are held. There is so much uncertainty about the future that they do not want to tangle with each other. Hence they are able to meet in a peaceful and convivial atmosphere.
IT was more like a large celebration under siege. It was no ordinary celebration, neither a king’s birthday nor a queen’s coronation anniversary. But the 226th anniversary of the independence of the most powerful state in the world, which once used to be celebrated with a great deal of fanfare in an atmosphere of freedom.
