White Lies

Reports that one of the most active intermediaries seeking safe exit for President Musharraf happens to be Mark Lyall Grant, the British High Commissioner in Pakistan brings an interesting perspective to the whole issue. Mr. Grant as it happens is a grandson of Lord Lyall of the British Raj after whom Lyallpur now Faisalabad is named. Incidentally the other mediator as rumour has it is a Saudi royal and we all know that the city of Lyallpur was re-christened Faisalabad after his uncle, the late King Faisal. Another rumour has it that President Musharraf may have been offered sanctuary in Saudi Arabia in which case his postal address could be Saroor Palace and we all know who was its last resident. So it does seem that all roads lead from Faisalabad to Saroor Palace.

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We hear that Mian Amir Mahmud, District Nazim, Lahore has made as many trips to Raiwind Road as he did to Zahoor Elahi Road in the days of the Parvez Elahi government. The formula worked and he has bandaged his relationship with the Sharif clan. Friends say he looked particularly happy after the Saturday visit. Incidentally, he is not just a Raiwind fan but also a Model Town boy whose association with Model Town Society is very deep.