Exposing Shyam Bhatia
Anjum Niaz quotes some folks "closer" to BB than Shyam Bhatia author of Goodbye Shahzadi and effectively debunks the author's claims. Here are two excerpts from her column:
1: In BB’s case, the only people entitled to such a distinction are her hardcore circle of Oxford friends. I called up one of them in London to comment. Victoria Schofield succeeded BB as the president of the Oxford Union in 1977. Their friendship spans a period of 33 years. “Up at Oxford I don’t remember meeting Shyam nor did Benazir ever mention him as a close friend,” she said.
2: Well, Bhatia makes a dramatic opening in his book Goodbye Shahzadi, giving the reader an exciting tour de force of his friendship with BB. “Shahzadi, Pinkie, Prime Minister, Mohtarma, BB, Miss Sahiba and Yank, were among the names — some of them used tongue-in-cheek — by which I addressed Benazir Bhutto during our 34-year association,” writes SB. “We were not always the best of friends, but we were in regular contact for much of the time and, occasionally, I was entrusted with confidential insights.” Bashir Riaz, better known as ‘Bash’ by BB and all who know him is another angry man today. “Bhatia would never dare call BB ‘Shahzadi’ or ‘Pinkie,’ nor did she give him open access as he claims. Bhatia used to pester me to arrange a meeting with BB. He would call me several times a day. If he was so close to her as he wants the reader to believe, why did he always have to go through me?”
[for more click on the heading]
1: In BB’s case, the only people entitled to such a distinction are her hardcore circle of Oxford friends. I called up one of them in London to comment. Victoria Schofield succeeded BB as the president of the Oxford Union in 1977. Their friendship spans a period of 33 years. “Up at Oxford I don’t remember meeting Shyam nor did Benazir ever mention him as a close friend,” she said.
2: Well, Bhatia makes a dramatic opening in his book Goodbye Shahzadi, giving the reader an exciting tour de force of his friendship with BB. “Shahzadi, Pinkie, Prime Minister, Mohtarma, BB, Miss Sahiba and Yank, were among the names — some of them used tongue-in-cheek — by which I addressed Benazir Bhutto during our 34-year association,” writes SB. “We were not always the best of friends, but we were in regular contact for much of the time and, occasionally, I was entrusted with confidential insights.” Bashir Riaz, better known as ‘Bash’ by BB and all who know him is another angry man today. “Bhatia would never dare call BB ‘Shahzadi’ or ‘Pinkie,’ nor did she give him open access as he claims. Bhatia used to pester me to arrange a meeting with BB. He would call me several times a day. If he was so close to her as he wants the reader to believe, why did he always have to go through me?”
[for more click on the heading]
posted by temporal at 8/01/2008
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