ACCORDING to a report in the media, former president Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf will be meeting President Barack Obama in the third week of October (Sept 9).

During his lecture tour to the US on Pakistan's national security, nuclear programme, future of Afghanistan, impact of the Afghan situation on Pakistan and role of Pakistan's Army in the war against terrorism, the former military ruler would also meet former US secretary of state Colin Powell, Senator John Kerry, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrook and heads of various US think-tanks and lawmakers.

Mr Musharraf's 40-day visit to the United States begins on Sept 14 during which the former president shall be paid a whopping fee of $300,000 per lecture to various American think-tanks and other institutions, in 17 American states - an amount that only former US president Bill Clinton is being paid for delivering a lecture and nobody else is being paid more than this amount.

While Mr Musharraf and overseas Pakistanis are busy building Pakistan's image, politicians, writers and anchors back home have been expressing their displeasure regarding the invitations. Some have enviously questioned the substantial fees paid to Mr Musharraf.

Rather than being envious, it would serve in Pakistan's interest if these critics made themselves worthy of delivering similar lectures abroad. Those criticising the most include Nawaz Sharif, Abida Hussain, Imran Khan, Hamid Gul, Mirza Aslam Beg, Zafar Ali Shah, Aitizaz Ahsan, Mujeeb Shami, and analysts and TV anchors.

They conveniently forget that those inviting him are mostly western think-tanks and institutions that reward on merit and do not send invitations unless one qualifies.

To the best of my memory, Benazir Bhutto was the only other Pakistani leader who was considered worthy of being invited on the circuit.

Despite the best efforts of these politicians, writers and anchors of pulling him down in Pakistan, Mr Musharraf is still respected and invited abroad.

What image are we projecting? Are we a nation of street fighters, feudal democrats or simply intolerant? Do we need to say more about such people and their love for the people of Pakistan?

SHAMS Z. ABBAS
Lahore