ISLAMABAD: A large number of leading political figures, belonging to almost all political parties, former superior court judges, retired generals, ex-bureaucrats and senior lawyers attended the wedding reception of Barrister Omar Sajjad, son of former Senate Chairman Wasim Sajjad.
Even a number of key personalities like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Maalik, Balochistan Assembly Speaker Jan Jamali and former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf were also part of the reception.
The presence of senior, aging people dominated the younger lot. Omar is married to the daughter of a landlord family of Rahimyar Khan. His wife is also a barrister. The wedding was solemnized a few days ago in Lahore. A sister of the bride is member of the National Assembly belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
While Wasim Sajjad invited important personalities, he did not forget the relatively junior staffers, some of them retired, who had worked with him when he was the chairman of the Senate or federal ministers for years. He was the longest serving Senate chairman.
The participation of prominent leaders of different political parties showed the host’s social relations with a variety of people despite being in the PML-Q. While Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain could not attend for being in Saudi Arabia to perform Umra, PML-Q Secretary General Mushahid Hussain, his wife Dr Dushka Syed and their son, Mustafa and his wife were present.
Wasim Sajjad remained associated with the PML-N for many years before switching over to the PML-Q when it was created after the 1999 martial law. He had worked with all the PML-N leaders, who attended the reception, for a long time and has been maintaining his ties. Politicians from other parties outnumbered those from the PML-Q.
Many retired judges, including some members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) were present in the function as Wasim Sajjad has been
working with them throughout his professional career as lawyer.
Some out-of-job politicians, who have no prospects to get a place in the present political dispensation, this correspondent talked to, refused to actively engage in politics because, they said, it is now too soiled and murky. It is prudent to be away from politics, they said.
“I prefer sitting home rather than jumping in the political fray,” one of them said showing his apparent disgust. “But I am not criticizing the present government,” he quickly remarked, leaving the door open for any future adjustment in it.
Some of them are still quietly struggling to go for a safe bet, meaning the PML-N ticket, in the forthcoming Senate election, but stand no chance to get it as the ruling party has many loyal aspirants to accommodate.
The host, his brother Zaheer Sajjad, a retired bureaucrat, and some of his other family members personally received each and every guest and paid personal attention to all of them as per our traditions.