ISLAMABAD: The Iftar-cum-dinner hosted by Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Tuesday evening in the honour of Services Chiefs, diplomats and his fellow senior colleagues in the cabinet has greatly helped in boosting morale and confidence of the host since yet another Day is approaching when he will have to respond to the apex court on the question of writing letter to the Swiss authorities to expose his mentor sitting in the presidential palace.
All eyes in the reception were focused on Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani who was the most significant guest of the evening. The General always maintains his sobriety and known for his few words but he was pleasant and bit vocal this evening. It is understood that nostalgic feelings do help in the disposition as chief guest and the host both are from the same terrain. Prime Minister Raja opted to hold first Iftar-dinner in the honour of notables of his hometown Gujjar Khan and he arranged the Services Chiefs feast in hurry since he was planning to host it later but it could have convey different message if arranged in the month of August because August 8 is falling in a week.
The guests were served with sumptuous food and the atmosphere was enjoyable as the guests were mostly discussing in whispering way about the future of the incumbent administration. The reference was obvious about the appearance and mood of some of the most important guests. The good thing about the guest in question is that he would never let you know about his inner, intention and plans. He could successfully dodge the so-called body-language experts. The two Parvezs showed warmth for each other and Potohar and Potohari were conspicuously common factors.
The speculation was being discussed by the guests that Prime Minister Pervaiz Ashraf Raja will not be ‘disqualified’ since he would prefer to step-down just before the fatal verdict that could consign him five years ineligibility from contesting the polls. ‘He has no son ready for contesting in his place in case if he becomes the victim of certain clauses of the constitution. His two brothers are readymade candidates but it would be hard for him to trust them in any eventuality,’ the views were being expressed by some of the guests.
Interestingly most of the ambassadors belonging to the Arab countries known for the close association with Pakistan were conspicuous with their absence in the Iftar-dinner reportedly due to their absence from the capital. Some of the stalwarts from the allied partners in the government were also absent. Despite this all, the Iftar-dinner helped creating much needed impression that was being searched by the host.