The Grapevine January 2015

While hapless children are dying with hunger in Thar, the spiritual leader of Hurs and Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) Chief Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi is in U.K. nowadays to buy horses of superior breeds. Pir Sibghatullah has also purchased a luxury jet from his close relative and former Governor Punjab Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood. This son is not following his father’s (Pir Pagara) footprints and believes in lavish spending.

This might be a lesson for opponents of military courts. Recently when Punjab government decided to withdraw request for detention against Malik Ishaq of LeJ, the authorities sought judicial remand of Malik from ATC Multan in a murder case. Thought the remand was granted by the court but it is reliably learnt by Pique that the judge started trembling when the prosecutor sought the remand of U.S. declared ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist’ from the court. The judge having irritable bowel went twice to the washroom before making his mind.

After much-trumpeted attack on PTV during Khan-Qadri dharnas, MD PTV Muhammad Malik smartly played and secretly got the permission from PTV Board for a luxury armored vehicle for himself. Sources privy to the development told Pique that Mr Malik pleaded before the board in a recent meeting that he needed the bulletproof vehicle due to severe security threats. MD PTV is also enjoying security cover of four retired SSG commandos who have been recently hired for the ‘fearful journalist’.

He wants to be relevant again. Now realizing the fact that the PML-Q has reduced into a Tonga Party, Mushahid Hussain Syed is trying to become Nawaz’s buddy again. But, the sources told Pique that the other side (PML-N) is not in any mood to accommodate the ‘fair-weather friend.’ Mushahid, after long disappearance, seen on the screen attending meetings of parliamentary panel assigned the drafting of national action plan against terrorism. He went into hibernation when the Chaudhrys were staging rebellion against the Sharifs under Tahirul Qadri’s flag.