THIS ia apropos of Shams Z. Abbas's letter, “Musharraf's lectures why be jealous?” (Sept 15). It is a matter of great honour that a Pakistani is being asked to deliver lectures at the most prestigious universities of the world and at globally-recognised forums of people of fame and intellect.

Pervez Musharraf is at present the highest-paid international personality for delivering lectures, and we Pakistanis should be proud of it.

Mr Abbas has also mentioned that only Benazir Bhutto had this honour from Pakistan, and she was the most sought and the second highest paid international personality after former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

In all probabilities, Z. A. Bhutto would have been on top of the list of speakers at such forums had he lived long, but this is an unfortunate part of our history.

We as a nation never pay credit to our fellow citizens where its due, rather we get jealous of them and try to malign our political opponents using all possible means available. Ms Bhutto, who was recognised as a world-classs leader and who was one of the best orators and an authority on international affairs, was called 'a security risk' in her own country the Daughter of the East who, with all the fabricated cases of corruption and with her husband in jail, was not only taking care of her family and the party but was busy delivering lectures at various world renowned prestigious institutions and through those lectures always introducing Pakistan as a modern and educated country, (most of her lectures are available in the book form.)

Her lectures were acknowledged all over the world, but alas in her own country her political opponents out of jealousy left no stone unturned to scandalise her and malign her name.

Many of her opponents were jealous of her towering personality she was well- educated and highly well-read whereas most of our political giants might have never read a single book in their lifetime.

Musharraf is also being treated similarly, and his political opponents are bent upon twisting his fame and name forgetting completely that Musharraf is simply speaking for the cause of Pakistan.

Musharraf comes of a very learned family and he himself is very well read. His book, 'In the Line of Fire', remained in the list of bestsellers for many weeks, and it i's hoped that he will soon get his lectures published in book form.

AAMIR AQIL
Lahore