Friday, January 06, 2006
I had been waiting patiently for almost a year to go and see "Jewel in the Crown - Karachi Under the Raj" at the Mohatta Palace. This was because I wanted to go with my Mamoo, who was due to visit Pakistan in December. Today was the big day! The Museum opens at 11:00 am so we excitedly got there at 11:05 am. There was a Rangers van parked outside and the guard shooed us off saying there was a "guest" in there and that we should come back after "a while". I wanted to get off and wallop him. After demanding to know what "a while" meant, he said, "come back in 30 minutes". So, we wandered around aimlessly and returned after about 40 minutes. We were "allowed" to enter then but I was still livid and wanted to know who the VIP was. Learned that it was Master Musharraf - His Royal Bilalness.It's absolutely ludicrous that visitors to the museum should have to find other things to do while the President's son checks out the exhibition. I realize that there are security concerns but then the Mohatta Palace staff should inconvenience itself not us, by opening an hour early or closing an hour late or asking the guy to visit on a Monday when they are officially closed.
I have heard that this guy Bilal is very humble and decent and shareef and tameezdar and all that crap. Does he know that people were turned away because of him? We planned our day really carefully, took time off from work, organized meetings accordingly and an hour's delay screwed things up. I would really be interested in hearing his views on this matter. We, the people, are supposed to be the beneficiaries of his father's enlightened policies. It's bad enough that each time a lowly bloody minister emerges from his house, traffic grinds to a halt and no one can budge until these misbegotten fools get to wherever they have to ... now, even the kids pull rank over the people. And this guy doesn't even live in Pakistan!!!!!!!!!!
This is so unacceptable. If I didn't have visitors with me, as well as my 81 year old grandmother, I would have created a scene. I think Nasreen Askari and the President's Son owe us an apology. If anyone who reads this blog has access to Bilal Musharraf, please forward this post to him and solicit his views. Am genuinely interested in knowing what makes these people tick.
8 Comments:
Absolutely right and justified. This is not the Bilal I had heard about from his friends. It's often the chamchaa-in-charge who causes this ... but now tha Bilal's father has gathered a whole cutlery cabinet around him, things are getting worse.
Have forwarded this link to 2 people who are Bilal's friends and speak highly of him. I agree that an apology is necessary.
BRAVO!! Sabeen and spot on. I would send this to my brother who is a neighbour or something of Bilal's out there. But i dont have his office e-mail address. Hope he'll check his hotmail. I am sending it on that.
You go girl! Please share Musharraf Jr.'s views if he deigns to reply. I'd like to hear them.
P.S: That is one great exhibit. I went last year and want to go again.
Sam: Hi there! I heard that Mush Jr. apologized to the public via the mainstream press. He claimed that he had a delegation of gora students with him and hence the security measures. BAH!
Your "P.S." made me realize that I didn't comment on the exhibition cause I was so busy huffing and puffing. It was spectacular and I have new found respect for Hameed Haroon for putting it together. God knows the Dawn staffers involved nearly had nervous breakdowns but mercifully, they've all survived and it was well worth it.
You are rightfully angry at the inconvenience caused to you because of Bilal, and I'm sure it could have been avoided. I also agree that you and others deserve an apology. But half the time people "who cause the inconvenience" dont even know about it. Now that does not justify anything but just wanted to give my 2 Cents.
destitute rebel: I totally agree that the inconveniencers often aren't aware of the grief they cause to ordinary citizens owing to the behaviour of guards, assistants, and cronies. However, the mainstream press does carry reports and news items on these issues. It's about time that the "people who cause the inconvenience" go out of their way to understand what havoc they wreak in the lives of citizens. Nothing stops them from being aware and everyone knows about the sycophancy that is rampant in our culture. So while I agree that they are often unaware, it does seem like a copout to feign ignorance and let things go on like they always have.
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Hahah its funny that i should read this blog after what happened to us outside the airport waiting for a friend to come. These stupid "VIP's" should abuse all their powers and "the country's money" and make special routes to get from one place to the other. STOP BOTHERING US! (or stop taking tax from us) buggers...
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