‘Superstitious’ Zardari delays diplomatic formalities
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For President Asif Ali Zardari acting upon the advice of his Pir (spiritual mentor) is more important than receiving foreign ambassadors. At least, it seems so in the backdrop of recent events.
Sources told Dawn.com that President Zardari’s travel plans twice delayed the ceremony where eight ambassadors were supposed to present their credentials.
The ambassadors of China, Brunei, Lebanon, Uruguay and four other countries have been waiting for more than two weeks to present their credentials.
Under diplomatic norms, the envoys cannot commence their formal diplomatic activities unless they present their credentials to head of the state.
Sources said the presidency issued the schedule for the ceremony three weeks ago that was supposed to take place in Islamabad. Meanwhile, the president had left for Karachi forcing the protocol staff to cancel the ceremony.
It was reported the president flew from the hilly federal capital on the advice of his Pir who wanted him to stay close to the seashore for “good-luck” and to ward off ‘some evil spirits dangling over his head.’
Keeping in view the president’s prolonged stay in Karachi, it was decided to receive the credentials in the provincial capital on Monday (June 24). However, the plan was changed once again.
This time it was not clear whether Pir Sahab had advised President Zardari to go a mountainous area instead.
Requesting anonymity a diplomat told Dawn.com that the ceremony of presenting credentials is traditionally held in the official residence of the head of state. In case of Pakistan the envoys are given a red carpet welcome as well as a short ride in specially decorated horse carriages.
Some of the envoys coming from their respective countries had to cancel their flights on two occasions. Now they have been told to come to the presidency, in Islamabad, and present their credentials to the president on Thursday (June 27).
One can only hope that Pir Sahab would not receive yet another fresh revelation that his client must avoid the shadows of Margalla Hills this time.
No one from the presidency was ready to comment on ‘such a sensitive issue.’
– Shahzad Raza is a freelance contributor. His twitter handle is @shahz79
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Comments (53) Closed
Jun 26, 2013 12:04am
The President of the Islamic Republic believes in Pir, and does not trust Allah for his well being?
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Jun 26, 2013 12:11am
Didn't we get rid of this guy once and for all? Howcome he's still the president of Pakistan.
Pir sahib should have also advised this excuse for a guy to drown in the sea as well. Would have done the whole nation a huge favor.
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Jun 26, 2013 12:21am
zardari sb is busy on issues of collecting corruption money from SINDH MPAS and contrctors bt budget 2013-14 release is deley so he worried and framing way to face Switzerland case again will re open very soon
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Jun 26, 2013 12:39am
As they say, a man who doesn't believe in anything believes in everything.
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Jun 26, 2013 02:42am
In the interest of democracy we must tolerate some more of Zardari's tantrums, in his last days.
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Jun 26, 2013 02:55am
So What? He has done better job that you and others people who took nation for the ride ???
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Jun 26, 2013 03:00am
I bet he also forwards the chain letters he receives to 7 of his friends!
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Jun 26, 2013 03:30am
What a joke......
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Jun 26, 2013 03:39am
Does this Pir also uses a cane to slap the bottoms of the President?
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Jun 26, 2013 06:51am
Reagan was famous for that, and his wife Nancy did all the arrangements for important events by consulting astrologers.
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Jun 26, 2013 07:20am
Andher Nagari Chaupat Raj.
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Jun 26, 2013 09:41am
*perhaps his Pir should have advised him to me more honest in his role as President and or else leave this post.*
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Jun 26, 2013 10:53am
Psychological dependence on soothsayers, astrologers, and god men is the curse which our politicians seem to suffer. If we want to catch up with developed nations the countries of sub continent must develop scientific temperament and rational thinking.
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Jun 26, 2013 10:58am
No wonder the religious, moral and social temprament of the country is down in the gutters with illierates like him in governance.
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Jun 26, 2013 11:06am
Wah.. Zardari sahib kay peer sahib kia cheez hon gay!!!
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Jun 26, 2013 11:31am
our president is no doubt involved in Black Magic. this must be investigated further.
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Jun 26, 2013 12:10pm
Superstiton is strictly forbiden in Islam and a believer has no rights to be called Muslim. According to our constitution only muslim can be the Head of State.
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Jun 26, 2013 12:26pm
Very funny Mr. president--of our modern clash orthodox times.
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Jun 26, 2013 12:38pm
Great, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (also head of foreign ministry, defence ministry, NAB, PCB, power and energy, steel mills, sugar mills, wheat mills and everything else) and President Asif Ali Zardari (owner of rest of the mills, husband of a Bhutto, father of a bunch of Bhuttos: scion of the Bhutto Empire) to lead a nuclear and terrorist-infested nation of Pakistan.
For some reason God has instilled a strange form of love in people for their motherland, family, faith. If it hadn't been for that I would have left Pakistan.
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Jun 26, 2013 01:08pm
This shows the intensity in Belief as a MUSLIM. Is it a Islamic Country where our rulers act upon Pir jee advice? Its a lesson for common people, where they are being treated as slaves. " DEMOCRACY IS A REVENGE".... new slogan by our new lords. Let the time pass by, nation will regret what they have chosen for themselves. its a common saying " jaise awam waisay HUKMURAN".
May Allah bless this nation and PAKISTAN.
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Jun 26, 2013 01:26pm
How about shifting the presidency to Karachi?
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Jun 26, 2013 02:06pm
How stupid does this sound and this is happening in the country that Jinnah founded? God, please help Pakistan get rid of the fools.
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Jun 26, 2013 03:03pm
If the President of the Islamic Republic does not have faith in God and relies on Pirs who are humans like him we can imagine why it has happened to this country what has happened in 5 years. May Allah forgive our sins and relieve us from such rulers. Ameen.
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Jun 26, 2013 03:25pm
we have tolerated him enough.
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Jun 26, 2013 04:32pm
@Abbastoronto:
Reading your previous posts I think you need more than a pir or an astrologer too to put your notions to anything like reality.
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Jun 26, 2013 04:44pm
Pir mile te peed na jaave, na os pir ki dharna hu.
Murshid mileyaan rushad na mann nu, o murshid ki karna hu.
Jis haadi theen naheen hadaayat, o haadi ki faddna hu.
Sir dittiyaan hakk haasil hove, mautoun mool na ddarna hu.
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Jun 26, 2013 05:52pm
Jesa mureed vesa pir ??
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Jun 26, 2013 07:38pm
@Qamar:
Allah doesn't tell him directly where to go, his Pir does.
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Jun 26, 2013 07:50pm
Ha, ha, ha.... and this is the leader of the "Islamic Republic"? What a joke.
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Jun 26, 2013 07:55pm
I think he is the most reasonable president we have had so far, a down to earth person compared to the craftly individuals we are used to seeing in Islamabad which has become makkarabad thanks to them. He was not brought up to think in racial terms and all inclusive in his dealings regardless if you are a Sindhi or not which can't be said about anyone else who has been in that seat except Bhutto Sahib.
As for his beliefs are concerned everyone in Pakistan believes in Pirs (spiritual mentors), we have them in New york too, infact non Muslim society (elite as well as common folk) looks towards astrologers which is fortune telling (alot worse than asking advice from a Pir).
Didn't Molana Rumi have a pir (Shams Tabrizi), and today we look up to him as our guide and spiritual master.
Didn't the greatest Ottoman Sultan Suleman the Magnificent have a dervish guiding him, read some history, it may guide you.
Nancy Reagan's secre came out because she fell out with one of the White House officials and he retaliated by telling the American nation that their first lady beleives in astrologers, infact General Zia used to do the same and there is always an astrologer at the presidency's payroll...
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Jun 26, 2013 08:12pm
Why don't we make pir sahib President of Pakistan?
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Jun 26, 2013 08:53pm
@Abbastoronto:
They are not ideal examples.
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Jun 26, 2013 09:11pm
@Majid:
Superstition is Not Forbidden in Islam but some form of Superstitions are described as a sin. Similarly, without any knowledge ascribing things to Allah is SHIRK. So be careful when you ascribe things to Allah/Islam without any knowledge.
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Jun 26, 2013 09:47pm
Mr. Raza:
Would you mind to disclose the source of your information?
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Jun 26, 2013 10:12pm
Mr. Raza appears to be trying to gain 'cheap publicity' by concocting a story that no one, who is a regular reader of Dawn, would believe. If he has credible information about President Zardari following such instructions, as mentioned by him, then he must let us know the credible evidence of his story; alternatively, if there is no supporting evidence, then he should ask himself whether this is how he wants to embark on the path of journalism, if that is his ambition.
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Jun 26, 2013 10:44pm
@Majid: This shows how democratic our country is. A minority who is born in this land (even if from 4 generations) is denied the right to seek the highest office of the land. How can you call this a democracy when people are considered second class citizens in their own land? Shame.
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Jun 26, 2013 11:19pm
@Faraz:
Big chor and most of his loot will be in his name, Nawaz Sharif knows this but he cannot do anything because he is also same.
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Jun 27, 2013 12:42am
Nawaz Sharif should bring this issue up in parliament. What does this make Pakistan look like?
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Jun 27, 2013 03:16am
mixing state duties with supersition thus not performing the duties of State
can be taken up in Court.
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Jun 27, 2013 03:34am
@Ashraf Usman:
Problem is that MAJORITY of the Pakistani mass is like this too
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Jun 27, 2013 05:37am
From Karachi easy to escape ! from Islamabad can't runaway in case need go UAE again !
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Jun 27, 2013 10:16am
In that case how about the Pir Sahib asking the sea shore to come closer to the President?
Diplomatic norms require courtesy and hospitality to the foreign representatives. Sometimes such absurdities may be misconstrued as insult or abuse, and that is not good for your country. A whimsical man, if the story is correct, being the president of an Islamic country where 'Allah' is all mighty, such jokes make a mockery of the entire nation.
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Jun 27, 2013 10:22am
That cant be true. The man like Mr. Zardari is far away from spiritual and any religious beliefs. At this stage man is purely materialistic and cant live with any religious or spiritual attachments. Secondly staying away from evil is strange statement because even evil seeks refuge from Pakistani politicians spatially a devil like him.. .
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Jun 27, 2013 10:45am
Bhutto zinda hai bhutto zinda hai..... Still today people elected voted to both parties. PML N & PPP. So pathetic, keep voting them and get the real taste of suffers... Love all pakis who voted these people and wish they will suck ur blood and from ur blood they will run the country hahaha
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Jun 27, 2013 12:58pm
The evil spirit, the pir is talking about is actually him (Zardari),
Maybe the Pir needs to take a break from his client. Go to the beach or get a message.....
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Jun 27, 2013 01:21pm
Each one unto his own. Faith and belief is a personal matter (Quote: Quaid, Unquote. Note -Quaid was not the founder but a top leader amongst many founders). Surely the article discredits the president not for his faith but allegedly, his fickle indecisiveness and trust in his spiritual advisor. The article is as ludicrous as the as the ridiculous comments about what Islam says and means, nationalism, saving 'the nation and Pakistan' - well, the nation is Pakistan, utter dislike for the president, etc. Guys, live with it! We are all the same, get it?
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Jun 27, 2013 01:56pm
Pathetic, Pathetic all I can say is Pathetic, in the 21st century this is really pathetic, what a bad way to portray Pakistan. And the sad part is that the act is done by the President, Pathetic to the extreme.
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Jun 27, 2013 01:57pm
agreed with suha sidra.
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Jun 27, 2013 02:03pm
zardari is the best president in the history of pakistan we love him .and we wish him good luck
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Jun 27, 2013 02:41pm
Give the Pir some credit - Mr. Zardari survived 5 years in the Presidency, and who would have thought he would become the President in the first place, so the Pir has something going for him though a branch of quantum physics theorizes that everything that happens in this universe is pre-determined, probably one of the reasons that mortals go to Pirs and Babas.
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Jun 27, 2013 03:12pm
@Suha Sidra Siddiqi : Can you please explain WHY WOULD A PRESIDENT WEAR SINDHI TOPI DURING HIS OFFICIAL VISIT TO IRAN?! He should have represented Pakistan not Sindh. This is one tiny example of his inclination.
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Jun 27, 2013 04:06pm
His Pir is doing good so far... :p At least he is still the President... :p
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Jun 27, 2013 04:12pm
presidency becomes peeridency
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