Baithak Desi May 30: Amir Mir, Sajjad Malik, Daily Times, News, Balochistan Travelogue, A G Noorani, Headlines, Cartoons

According to highly-placed military sources, the unscheduled meeting between the president and the army chief took place amid media reports that Musharraf was flexing his muscles to replace General Kiyani with one of his confidants to tilt the balance of power in his favour. Kiyani has been adamant to keep the institution of the Army neutral in the ongoing confrontation between Musharraf and Zardari. The meeting on Wednesday night went on post midnight and lasted for more than three-and-a-half hours. Their longest ever one-on-one encounter, which is significant in view of the current political and security situation in the country, gained further importance as it took place after day-long consultations of the incumbent COAS with his corps commanders.
mir Mir: Mush's days numbered as Kiyani sacks prez loyalists


And this by Sajjad Malik:
* President says ‘rumour-mongers’ trying to create differences between he and army
* Spokesman says Musharraf to complete five-year term
* Says president will not vacate Army House
* ISPR DG says transfer of 111 Brigade commander not ‘abrupt’ move Musharraf slams resignation rumours


And to round up Daily Times Editorial after a balanced recount of the current situation says:
"... President Musharraf’s spokesman General (Retd) Rashid Qureshi says his boss has no intention of leaving, but given the public perception of his days in power, it would be advisable for him to reconsider. A stock-taking of how successful he was and how many mistakes he made while in power has been done elsewhere. It is now time to take the big decision. After all, no job is forever. And no contract for a job is ever iron-clad."


Meanwhile, highly placed sources revealed to The News that a special wide-bodied Air Bus A-310 plane has arrived here at the Chaklala base. It will take special passengers to a close neighbouring country. Packing at an important house in Rawalpindi is in full swing as the modalities have also been finalised for the exit of the significant family. The News - Plane arrives at Chaklala airport


The landscape remained like that for hundreds of miles until we reached Aab-e-Gum, a small station in Baluchistan. The scenery and feeling there was like that of being at a hill-station. The sun had set and it was quite pleasant there. Signs of greenery, seen after hundreds of dry miles, were very refreshing. A young boy with green eyes, golden brown hair and very fair complexion entered the train selling dates in a beautiful hand-made packet made of dried date-leaves saying 'pahari khajor le lo'. Each packet had a dozen dates and all it cost was Rs. 5 ! We could not really pronounce, '', the name of the place as written on the sign board of the station thus asked this boy. He replied innocently, "yahan pani nahe hota na is liye isko Aab-e-Gum boltay hain." When asked how they get water then, he replied, "jab pani bilkul nahe hota to water aata hay". "wo truck atay hain peso kaa water detay hain", he said when he was asked where does that 'water' come from. Baluchistan, as I saw it!

The dismissal of the foreign secretary of Pakistan, Mr Riaz Muhammad Khan, one of the most accomplished and respected diplomats, is the third in an unfortunate series in South Asia. Rajiv Gandhi dismissed Foreign Secretary Mr AP Venkateswaran in January 1987; Benazir Bhutto dismissed Dr Humayun Khan as foreign secretary in 1990. Killing the messenger —A G Noorani


Addressing the People's Lawyers Forum (PLF), Mr Zardari has said that there are some people who want martial law to be imposed in the country, and that if the lawyers want to start a movement, the government is ready for it. He said that they would present the constitutional amendment to the PLF (instead of to the coalition partners!) on the 31st. The cat is thus out of the bag. These are actually Musharraf and America speaking through Mr Zardari. This single statement has darkened the political horizon more than any event of the last few months. The PML-N will now probably have to quit the coalition, and the PML-Q and MQM will take their place. God be with us!The cat is out of the bag


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Maxim - Today's Cartoon