Such Gup

Such Gup

Third time lucky


Our mole says that a high and mighty personage sent word to the superintendent of Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail last month, seeking to meet The Man of Steel. The personage came from the very font of power, and despite knowing that, The Man of Steel said that he was unable to meet any emissaries for the moment. A few days later, the personage sent word again. Once again, The Man prevaricated. The third time he sent a request, The Man agreed to meet him and when offered a “deal”, was told that the only deal The Man and his party would accept would be a “free and fair election”. Third time lucky?

Hardball


It’s the first time, informers say, that the Maulana is getting ready to open the mouths of his coffers. His loyalists have been told to raise Rs 5 crore in cash per sector. He too, like The Man of Steel, has been visited by the high and mighty, asking for “collaboration” and “calibration” of his million-man march on Islamabad. The Maulana, again like The Man of Steel, is playing hardball for the moment. Meanwhile, the scenario in the Punjab is shifting every day with Mr Bean’s lookalike being asked time and again to join The Great Khan’s horde so that he can become a candidate for high office. So far, he’s playing hardball too.

Magnanimous values


Along moribund relationship is showing signs of thawing. It’s no secret that Chory Shuj of Guj and his cousin are known to be men of magnanimous values. These values have found belated appreciation in The Man of Steel’s camp, and some from the latter have reached out to Chory Shuj in his recent illness and made contact with him and his family in Germany, where he is being treated. It is said The Chories treated Talented Bro’s son with kindness when in Mush’s time the family was in exile. But upon their return to power, it is said, Talented Bro did not return the compliment so the relationship nosedived. It is being repaired again, we hear, with inevitable consequences for Pakistani politics.