THIS is apropos of the photograph of the farm house of former president Gen (Rtd) Pervez Musharraf and the related news story (Sept 4).

The majestic building on the outskirts of the federal capital has been built on a plot allotted by the Capital Development Authority for growing fruit and vegetables. Apart from other things, it also speaks of the blatant violation of the rules and regulations by no other than a sitting head of the state.

The retired general was also reported to have donated Rs10 million for the flood-affected people. His philanthropy and the act of benevolence deserve appreciation. But, most salaried people, whatever class or cadre they belong to, envy his good fortune. Pervez Musharraf is known to have belonged to an upper middle class family. Both his parents were fixed-income salaried persons. They were neither industrialists nor businesspersons. They did not belong to the landed aristocracy either.

All salaried Pakistanis wonder as how a retired general, with a fixed income and a modest background, can be that rich to build a palace and give such a big amount of money as donation from his monthly savings.

A PAKISTANI
Islamabad