Zardari goes shopping

Published September 20, 2012

Yesterday evening at around 5:30 pm I decided to a walk on the road behind Bilawal House when I noticed a huge police presence. They were stopping all heavy traffic and very quickly a long line of oil tankers began to form.

-Photo by Vaqar Ahmed

Upon speaking with one of the policeman there, I learnt that Mr. Zardari had gone to the Hyperstar Supermarket and the heavy traffic would move only after he had come back.

-Photo by Vaqar Ahmed

The tankers had to wait for an hour before they were allowed to move. I took this as an opportunity to snap a few pictures highlighting just how thoughtful our rulers are.

The policeman and all the truck drivers were chatting. And everyone seemed to be in a jovial mood. None seemed overly concerned about the delay.

-Photo by Vaqar Ahmed

I told the drivers and the policeman there that in my 25 years in Canada I did not encounter one case where the traffic was held up due to VIP movement. They were all amazed.

In addition, they said now that anyone of any importance had armed guards in their convoys, it was hard to tell if it was them or the actual criminals who are the greater threat to the people of Pakistan.

 


The author is an engineer turned part-time journalist who likes to hangout at unfashionable places like shrines, railway stations and bus stops.

 


The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.

Opinion

Editorial

Momentary relief
Updated 10 May, 2026

Momentary relief

THE IMF’s approval of the latest review of Pakistan’s ongoing Fund programme comes at a moment of growing global...
India’s global shame
10 May, 2026

India’s global shame

INDIA’s rabid streak is at an all-time high. Prejudice is now an organised movement to erase religious freedoms ...
Aurat March restrictions
Updated 10 May, 2026

Aurat March restrictions

The message could not have been clearer: women may gather, but only if they remain politically harmless.
Removing subsidies
Updated 09 May, 2026

Removing subsidies

The government no longer has the budgetary space to continue carrying hundreds of billions of rupees in untargeted subsidies while the power sector itself remains trapped in circular debt, inefficiencies, theft and under-recovery.
Scarred at home
09 May, 2026

Scarred at home

WHEN homes turn violent towards children, the psychosocial damage is lifelong. In Pakistan, parental violence is...
Zionist zealotry
09 May, 2026

Zionist zealotry

BOTH the Israeli military and far-right citizens of the Zionist state have been involved in appalling hate crimes...