WILL ANYONE REPRIMAND THE MINISTER ?

A local eveninger carried the news about the country’s globe-trotting head honcho of the Foreign Ministry enjoying the nectar of the gods at a party given in his honor by the UN Secretary-General, during the month of Ramadhan.

In this regard, your correspondent, S.A.Haleem, in his letter published on March 02, bitterly complained about this action of the Sardar and wanted someone in the higher echelons of the government to "reprimand the minister for his effrontery".

Why are people making this hullabaloo ? It is a known fact that people in power and even those who profess to be exemplary Muslims imbibe alcohol. One has to go to any diplomatic party or even in the MNA hostel, and booze flows smoother there than H₂O. For crying out loud, there’s a battle going on in the courts over a beer brewing factory.

Moreover, why be a hypocrite ? The late Jam of Sindh didn’t mince words and openly confessed to chugging a bottle of the finest Scotch. Even the Great ZAB admitted his preferences at a mammoth public meeting in 1977. In fact, the Sardar did what he wanted to do openly, unlike the other Muslim ambassadors, many who would do it behind closed doors.

The Keeper of the keys of the former Scherazade Hotel should only be counseled that alcohol is bad for his liver and that he should try to get rid of nasty habits such as boozing and smoking. Maybe being on the wagon might clear up things for him, especially on the Brown Amendment. After all, Ms Lodhi cannot be burdened with doing all the legwork.

Yours etc :