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President need not give any message through photo
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=205897
Quaids portrait figures in meeting with Army Chief
Friday, October 30, 2009
By Umar Cheema
ISLAMABAD: The Father of the Nation, Quaid-i-Azam, is back in the power corridors, at least on the main table where the PPP had put Benazir Bhuttos portrait, replacing that of the Quaid.
Mr Jinnah was visible between the two most powerful people of the country, President Asif Ali Zardari and Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in their one-on-one meeting. Was it a change of heart or an attempt to convey a message to the army chief to be respectful to the civilian leadership? Quaids picture that was hanging on a sidewall in presidential office was given centre stage.
Quaids portrait was sidelined after the PPP seized power. Those were largely replaced with the huge portraits of Benazir Bhutto, which were not only donned in the public offices, but also travelled all the way around the world where Zardari went to attend the meetings.
Although the government faced criticism from different quarters on honing Ms Bhuttos image at the expense of Pakistans founder, the office-holders remained unmoved. It was only the day army chief met the president amid heightening tensions fuelling different kinds of speculations; Zardari replaced her widows portrait with that of Jinnah. He seemed to have drawn strength from Quaids portrait that the late Bhuttos picture couldnt offer him.
A close examination of the photo archives of Press Information Department found that Zardari rarely met army chief alone. And whenever he did, late Bhutto would look on through the portrait.
Tuesdays one-on-one meeting was the third held after the restoration of judges, the archive indicates. One such meeting took place on April 28 and another on June 12 and late BBs picture was present on both the occasions, however, Zardari wore a grim face.
Tuesdays was the first such interaction held only in the presence of Quaids photo. In other cases, Prime Minister Gilani was present during the meetings.A presidential spokesman denied if any special arrangements were made only for meeting with Gen Kayani. He said photographs of Quaid and Bhutto were placed on two different side tables. If the meeting had been held on the other side, late Bhuttos photo would have figured. He said it is also possible that photos on two different tables are exchanged with each other. He said Quaids photo was never sidelined in the Presidency.
But the PIDs archives show that in all the meetings held in Presidency since February this year, Benazir Bhuttos picture had been prominent, not of Mr Jinnah. The presidential spokesman also rejected the impression that the president wanted to give a message to the army chief by placing the Quaids photo on the table.
He said the president does not need to do that. Moreover, what message one can give by placing photos? He said it is a democratic government and Quaids photo is present in the Presidency, the Prime Minister House and the Parliament. He said democracy in this country owed much to Quaid. He said the government believed in democracy and independence.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=205897
Quaids portrait figures in meeting with Army Chief
Friday, October 30, 2009
By Umar Cheema
ISLAMABAD: The Father of the Nation, Quaid-i-Azam, is back in the power corridors, at least on the main table where the PPP had put Benazir Bhuttos portrait, replacing that of the Quaid.
Mr Jinnah was visible between the two most powerful people of the country, President Asif Ali Zardari and Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in their one-on-one meeting. Was it a change of heart or an attempt to convey a message to the army chief to be respectful to the civilian leadership? Quaids picture that was hanging on a sidewall in presidential office was given centre stage.
Quaids portrait was sidelined after the PPP seized power. Those were largely replaced with the huge portraits of Benazir Bhutto, which were not only donned in the public offices, but also travelled all the way around the world where Zardari went to attend the meetings.
Although the government faced criticism from different quarters on honing Ms Bhuttos image at the expense of Pakistans founder, the office-holders remained unmoved. It was only the day army chief met the president amid heightening tensions fuelling different kinds of speculations; Zardari replaced her widows portrait with that of Jinnah. He seemed to have drawn strength from Quaids portrait that the late Bhuttos picture couldnt offer him.
A close examination of the photo archives of Press Information Department found that Zardari rarely met army chief alone. And whenever he did, late Bhutto would look on through the portrait.
Tuesdays one-on-one meeting was the third held after the restoration of judges, the archive indicates. One such meeting took place on April 28 and another on June 12 and late BBs picture was present on both the occasions, however, Zardari wore a grim face.
Tuesdays was the first such interaction held only in the presence of Quaids photo. In other cases, Prime Minister Gilani was present during the meetings.A presidential spokesman denied if any special arrangements were made only for meeting with Gen Kayani. He said photographs of Quaid and Bhutto were placed on two different side tables. If the meeting had been held on the other side, late Bhuttos photo would have figured. He said it is also possible that photos on two different tables are exchanged with each other. He said Quaids photo was never sidelined in the Presidency.
But the PIDs archives show that in all the meetings held in Presidency since February this year, Benazir Bhuttos picture had been prominent, not of Mr Jinnah. The presidential spokesman also rejected the impression that the president wanted to give a message to the army chief by placing the Quaids photo on the table.
He said the president does not need to do that. Moreover, what message one can give by placing photos? He said it is a democratic government and Quaids photo is present in the Presidency, the Prime Minister House and the Parliament. He said democracy in this country owed much to Quaid. He said the government believed in democracy and independence.
