Pakistani politicians descend on London

By Murtaza Ali Shah

LONDON: London is abuzz these days with the Pakistani political and social elite which has found comfort in London's moderate temperature - 7,000 miles away from Pakistan's sweltering heat.

Topping the list of political dignitaries pacing up and down the expensive London malls with their associates or family members is Nawaz Sharif who arrived here when the drama of Punjab Assembly's unanimous resolution against the media was about to unfold. After the shameful episode of the Punjab Assembly's condemnation of the media, Sharif chose to launch the damage-limiting exercise in a posh London hotel here. He took on Sana Masti Khel in a merciless manner in his emotional speech broadcast live to Pakistan.

While Nawaz is still in London with his wife, Masti Khel still remains untouchable and many are questioning whether Sharif's sermon from London was only bravado. Accompanying him during this trip is Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, who arrived in London nearly three weeks ago before the senior most Sharif.

Shahbaz is believed to be increasingly taking close interest in the family's vast business pursuits in London, hence his extensive stay. MQM's parliamentary leader and Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Dr Farooq Sattar is also in London and has addressed three public gathering in Northern England, promoting MQM's book (MQM - Challenging Terrorism and promoting Liberalism in Pakistan) and meeting with members of the Pakistani community, British parliamentarians and MQM unit leaders in various cities.

He left for Germany on Sunday for public meetings but last night he addressed a major rally of the MQM in Sheffield. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan, who is considered an experienced mover and shaker in London's upmarket party scene, is also whiling away his time in picturesque Scottish heights with his sons and other close friends. He will be staying here for at least another week or so and will address a press conference once his holidays in Scotland are over. At the weekend, the former cricketer-turned-righteous politician was at his former wife Jemima Khan's Kiddington Hall country house to mingle with the likes of Pink Floyd rock gods David Gilmour and Roger Waters, British supermodel Kate Moss, Harry Potter director Alfonso Guaron, Sheherazade Goldmsith, and Madonna's former husband guy Ritchie.

Another big hitter to have arrived over the weekend in London is Maulana Fazlur Rehman who addressed a big rally of Pakistani clerics in Birmingham. These clerics are not only a source of funding for the Maulana's Jamaat but are hard at work in spreading the ideology in the UK that the Maulana preaches in Pakistan. The shrewd Maulana didn't utter a single word in praise of Taliban or why the government should talk to them.

The Maulana knows he could be shunted out for praising Taliban militants in the UK; therefore, he avoids touching this subject when in London. He also plans to address a press conference in London to talk about the "mutual respect and co-existence of cultures", according to one of his aides who spoke to The News.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani's son Qadir Gilani, who is believed to be looking after the swallowing financial interests of his family in the British capital while his father sits at the helm of affairs back in Pakistan, is too in London.

On Monday night the young Gilani, the junior Sharif and many other blue-eyed boys including former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz were at the wedding of former Labour MP Muhammad Sarwar's son in Glasgow. The senior Sharif, who was the first choice of the Faisalabad born Labour politician and a business magnate, an insider says, chose to send his nephew to the wedding after fathering some knowledge of the invited guest list, which also included Pervez Musharraf, his begum Sehba Musharraf and former premier Shaukat Aziz.

Although Musharraf is holed up in Dubai these days at his newly-bought luxury flat holding meetings with his loyalists but who knows the retired commando could spring up a surprise and make an altogether uncomfortable company for his arch nemesis at the wedding.

Not to be left behind in rush to reach London, do a shopping spree and do a press conference, at least a dozen PPP leaders are also due to arrive in London after the culmination of President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to China.