Two years ago Governor Khalid Maqbool awarded Sitarai Imtiaz to Hamesh Khan, President Bank of Punjab for his meritorious services in the banking sector. But as soon as the government changed, Hamesh was declared a manipulator and swindler. Nine billion rupees were found missing from bank's coffers with no collaterals, no guarantees. As always, NAB woke up from its deep slumber, as it always does after the event, and went into action to prove its existence. Hamesh smart as ever had planned nine steps ahead of them. While many in bank's top hierarchy were sacked, and five general managers were arrested, no one has got to our friend Hamesh Khan. Some said Hamesh had turned approver to save his skin, others said he had bribed his way out of trouble and was sunning in Spain. Still others who claimed to know the inside story said Hamesh could never be touched because he could name names. The great swindler has turned out to be a slippery eel. You can neither get him by the head nor by the tail. -DR A.P. SANGDIL, Oslo, Norway, via e-mail, July 19.