Former President Musharraf enjoyed one full day of relief and started packing for his long expected departure to Dubai, when he was confronted with a new arrest warrant regarding the 2007 raid on the Red Mosque in Islamabad, a day after a court granted him bail in a separate case. His home, a villa at the outskirts of Islamabad, was declared a "sub-jail" by now, his travel plans on hold once more.
President Hussain issues an ordinance to further amend the anti-terror laws and Prime Minister Sharif announces to raise a special anti-terrorism force to end the "blood game" that haunts the country, still upholding the determination to start talks with the Taliban.
At the day of their respective announcements, blasts hit all four provincial capitals, with dozens killed in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta simultaneously.
The number of organizations banned by the government has almost doubled during the last two years, counting 63 by now. This raise in number only partially accounts to the fact that after being banned, the groups change their name and operate sometimes as a political, charitable or religious wing of a political or religious party - "the outlawed outsmart the law" as a commentator put it. Rival parties emerge after a leader has been killed, the heightened Sunni-Shia conflict has led to new groups to emerge or expand and Balochistan makes for a steady number of militant separatist groups.
Imran Khan, party chairman of PTI, the major political party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, continues his mantra of talking with the Taliban as the direct road leading to peace and prosperity. It remains to be defined who actually will be part of these "chosen Taliban", as Hakimullah Mehsud, one of their leaders, denies any responsibility for any attack happening on Pakistan's soil as being unislamic, giving interviews on BBC while happily frolicking along a riverbank in Waziristan. Last night the law minister of KP was killed in a suicide attack along with eight men as he was visiting friends on the festive day of the religious holiday Eid.
The determined effort by the government to strengthen ties between India and Pakistan hit a rocky road as deadly confrontations on the line of control (LoC) between Pakistani and Indian controlled Kashmir erupt again.
Malala Yousufzai, the amazing girl who keeps on inspiring girls in Pakistan to pursue their education, has become a star all over the western hemisphere and the list of awards and honors, the countless speeches at impressive institutions and universities, interviews on numerous shows on television and radio, inaugurations of libraries and schools, keeps on growing. Her portrait at the National Portrait Gallery, a "Malala Fund", a biography about her life, a documentary about to be produced, honorary citizenship, tea with the Queen at Buckingham Palace and at the White House with the Presidential family. One hopes that this 16 years old teenager who had to endure a near fatal attack just a year ago will be able to cope with that cyclone of public interest she has been drawn into.
A wedding invitation to Faisalabad - former Lyallpur, that still remembers Sir Charles James Lyall as the founder of the city in the 19th century, now home to over six million people and pleasantly welcoming with its beautiful gardens. After a sumptuous welcome lunch the ladies suggest a shopping trip, as the city is well known for its textile industry. Shopping trip?? Simply walking on foot out of the hotel??? A rare pleasure indeed and of course everyone agrees enthusiastically - we are women, after all... Meeting at the lobby shortly afterwords and, well, not so surprisingly, the security guy just silently shakes his head, no, not on the markets, and nowhere else either the way we are dressed... So, a few head back to change to be driven to a small shopping mall, as others decide to have a nap to pass the time until the announced high tea, adapting to the local tradition of keeping the jaw muscles in good shape.
The wedding reception, Walima, starts for the foreign guests on a secluded island in a pond where glasses are filled with more refined products of fruit juices than the usual natural fresh version and after a small chat with the glamorous wedding couple that sits on a large sofa greeting more than one thousand guests (!) - the skills of a true makeup artist keeps the bride looking impeccable and stunning through the night and her own remarkable stamina (the wedding adrenaline rush, I assume) lets her hold onto her smile with no break -
... the banquet follows with international cuisine:
The mild sun at the brunch next morning is definitely shining too bright for the young bride and her sister as they cover their sensitive morning eyes with Parisian sunglasses, as the male part of the jeunesse dorée of Faisalabad and Hyderabad displays the whole variety of polo playing horsemen on their colorful shirts - an American designer is apparently hitting the fashionable taste of the local elite.
Eidul Azha, the Muslim festivities commemorating Abraham sacrificing a lamb and meant to be a two day celebration, is unexpectedly turned into a generous six day holiday this year by the government. A stroll through the cattle market, where goats, lambs, oxes and camels await their destiny of being slaughtered as a symbolic gesture, all made up beautifully with paint and flower decorations, evokes the desire to have seafood and vegetables on the menu for the coming days.
This means a shopping visit to nearby Metro, known for their fresh fish selection in Islamabad.
Well, reality is challenged to live up to the reputation, but without losing completely all hope for some items worth to be bought, I head for the section "International Cuisine" to find a full display cabinet of Hershey's syrup, some pickles, small boxes of real corn flakes and Weetabix!! Why not Weetabix then, haven't tasted them since my visit to England as a teenager. At the cash register, the friendly clerk shakes his head, no, a price fight with the company forbids to sell Weetabix right now. No price offer can change his mind and I pack the bananas, the corn flakes and the bundle of small banknotes back into the purse...
