Upcoming polls, LoC situation come under discussion at Iftar dinner

ISLAMABAD: The guests in traditional Iftar dinner hosted by former federal secretary Syed Anwar Mahmood at Islamabad Club Friday evening had candid discussion regarding national politics.

Most of the guests were of the view that the country is already in thick soup and upcoming polls would help in deteriorating the situation since tempers of political parties and some leaders are extremely high while some political actors are hell-bent on vitiating the political ambiance further. The general elections, its possible outcome and caretaker prime minister’s nomination, tension at the LoC and re-emergence of terrorism in different parts of the country and its impact on the process of polls were the other topics on which the distinguished guests had frank gossip.

The guesswork continued about the caretaker premier even during the Iftar and later on the dinner table. The future and fate of ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) lifetime Quaid Nawaz Sharif remained under discussion throughout the feast. The guests were of opinion that a politician’s career doesn’t diminish with one or two adverse actions. “Nawaz Sharif would be more relevant with the passage of time and people will always remember him whenever they will have to face some discomfort,” they opined. It was also pointed out in the get-to-gather that the number of senior bureaucrats from the capital, including some federal secretaries, had gone abroad on long leave.

Their leave was termed ‘intriguing’ just before the announcement of the general elections in the country.

Incumbent federal Secretary Information Shafqat Jalil and former secretaries Ashfaq Ahmad Gondal, Salim Gul, Chaudhary Rashid Ahmad, Pemra’s former chairmen Absar Alam, Mian Javaid, PIO Professor Salim Baig, National Press Club President Tariq Chaudhary, secretary general Shakil Anjum, famous neuro-surgeon Dr. Khaliq-uz-Zaman, renowned editors of the newspapers, columnists, anchorpersons and media-persons attended the dinner and enjoyed it thoroughly.