MR PRESIDENT- CONGRATS! NOW ADMIT LIKE A MAN

February 6th, 2011

Shazia Nawaz interviews Tanveer Zamani to find the truth about her marriage to President of Pakistan- that has become talk of the town in Pakistan & abraod!

I have to be crazy to be up at 1 am and writing all this when I have to be at work early in the morning. And let’s face it, patients like to see their doctors fresh and rested, so I should finish this quickly. It’s too late and I’m too tired, so my advance apologies for all the typing and grammar errors I am going to make here.

The topic is too interesting and excitement is too much. I can not sleep on it. Guess who I spoke with? Yes, Dr. Tanveer Zamani. Or should I call her Dr. Tanveer Zamani Zardari?

When I read Farah Naz Isphahani’s statement denying Zamani’s marriage to Zardari, I was shocked. No, not because she denied it, but because of the way she denied it. Isphahani was angered by this marriage. She called Zardari a widower and sort of expressed that she likes that status of his. Mr. Husain Haqqani, one of my favorite intellectuals of the country, too was angered by the marriage.
Why?

It is political jealousy. Couple holds political jealousy towards Zamani. How would I know? I just spoke with the lady and she thinks so.

Zamani picks up the phone if you call her toll free number given on her Facebook page. I introduced myself and to my surprise, she knew me well. She has been watching my YouTube show and has been reading me on all the APPNA lists and blogs for a while now. I have to admit, I was flattered.

Would not you be?
I found her beautiful and graceful in all her videos on YouTube. She has studied too much but yet has been able to maintain her beauty. Spotless skin and slim figure. Stress did no harm.

Zamani agreed to interview for my blog. She trusted me since we have a lot in common and we had chemistry. We have same profession, good looks, and we both seek publicity.

Not a cheap one though she said. And I agreed. Neither of us would do it. I, and she said that she, would not make up a rumor like this just to promote herself.

She did not make a rumor. She indeed is married to our president.
No, she did not say it like that. But she said it in so many words.

ME: So, are you married to Zardari?

Her: I would not comment on that.
That was not an acceptable answer. Cutting it short for you readers, she does not deny it but actually accepts it in so many words.

It was 13th of january when Zardari landed at JFK and only Haqqani was there this time to receive him, along with three bodyguards. Although Haqqani flew with Zardari alone from JFK to Washington, DC, but Zardari was not willing to share the matters of heart with Haqqani. No good man would share matters of his heart with any other man.

They met Obama the next day. And guess what Zardari asked for? Security for Tanveer Zamani.

That information almost gave me tears in my eyes. The man cares about her. Guess who was there listening to this request?

Our very smart ambassador who they say later leaked the info out.
“ It has to be him. since he was the only third person there,” Zamani says.
Haqqani dropped Zardari off at JFK to go back to Pakistan. He does not know where Zardari went.

He went to Dubai to marry Zamani. “There were more animals in the wedding than humans,” Zamani joked. But she made that joke based on the article on the net that mentions number of animals sacrificed that day. If I was upset at Farah Naz Isphahani’s anger at this marriage, Zamani has to be too.

Why in the world party insists on keeping the man single?
Why has he been told to deny the rumor? Why are they pressurizing him so much? Why is Haqqani constantly calling Zamani on the phone and telling her not to talk to people and deny the rumor?

Neither myself nor Zamani liked it. Does Haqqani himself not enjoy the marital bliss with a wonderful and cute woman? Would it be better for Zardari to stray instead of marrying one woman to fulfill his needs?

A blogger has been writing for months about their affair, Zamani said. Blogger has written it all. How they met and how it all started. How he was a playboy and changed and how he started smiling instead of laughing aloud. Then why does Haqqani have to come out and say that Zardari has never even met Zamani?

It would break my heart to think that Haqqani lied. I truly like him. I liked/like Salman Taseer a lot more. But then Haqqani is all we have left now when it comes to intellectuals. He is no match for Salman Taseer though, God bless ST’s soul.

So, does Haqqani know that Zamani and Zardari have met? A brilliant mind as he is, he has to know after watching Zardari asking for extra security for Zamani.
Zamani said that she would not confirm the news. Plan was to keep it a secret for 2 years. Why so?

ME: I do not understand how in the world bright and mature children of a widower would be upset if their father re-married

HER: He is hiding it because he gets votes as BB’s widower.
But then she said that she is not saying that ‘he’s hiding it’. But if he was hiding it, this is why he would be.

When did it become a crime to remarry for a widower?
Why would we not vote for him if he went ahead and did it the Islamic way instead of doing ‘it’ randomly?

HER: Would you not like a woman like me in A- WANE- SADAR?
Regardless of the news being true or not.

ME: I most certainly would.
Me: So, you are married then and this is why you are not denying it?
I became direct again.

She said again, “I am not going to be Bill Clinton. So, I am going to stay quiet instead of denying it first and then accepting it later.”

I tried to be tricky and clever, “ So, who leaked the wedding news?”
She said, “The designer. We go to other countries and go around like no one knows us.”

Was I too clever or did she tell me that on purpose?
Then she added, “I am too busy at work, since I was away for so many days and my work piled up.”

Me: So, do you love him, or are you just marrying him for money?

Her: Shazia, you and me, we are both doctors in USA. We earn in dollars and we pay taxes in dollars. His pay is less than my pay.

Me: But he has billions.

Her: Everyone knows my loyalty to him. My father yelled and yelled. My mom said that he is a bad person and he is very ameer (rich).

And I said, “if he is Ameer, I would make him Ameer-ul-Momeeneen.”
I would take a bullet for him. People say that if he was good enough for BB and if he is good enough for me, he must be a good person. After all, we see something in him.

ME: So, you married him then?

HER: I said no comments.
In the end, we had heart to heart conversation. I told her that how if a guy does not stand by you after marrying you and denies it, he is not worthy of you. I shared the story of that Indian politician with her, who became a Muslim to marry his mistress and later divorced her under pressure.
Zamani sounded worried.

She thinks that it is rivalry that is making the ambassador and his Mrs. deny this marriage. Of course, regardless of the fact if she is married or not.

Her: I mean, it broke my heart. There is no woman in A-WANE-SADER. Do they not want any woman there? would it not be good for our people if a woman like me is there? Everyone knows my dedication to him and to the party.

Well, at 2 AM in the morning, when I finish writing this, I ask Mr. President to be a man and accept his wife. It would not take your votes away, if corruption did not. Corruption should have though.

No wise children would expect their father to be single for life. That is plain cruel.
In the end I asked, “So, is he a good kisser?” Now I was going all American on her. She laughed at this question.

Zamani did not understand the statement that FN Isphahani made to her husband, “ Zamani is a dignified woman. She would not do it”.
I simply do not like that statement. Dignified women do not fall in love and do not marry?

In the end, it was difficult to tell if I was too clever to get all the info from her or she did that on purpose. Either way, world should know her thoughts, and Zardari, if really has married her, should come out and accept it.
Payar kia hay chori nahi kee

Disclaimer: PPP denies this marriage in the strongest possible terms. They are outraged by this rumor and call it a publicity stunt by Dr. Zamani. Only God (and Zamani and Zardari) knows the truth. My apologies to everyone whose feelings are hurt by this interview. My intentions were good.

Addendum: And now I hear that she already has a husband and is married. She said a lot of things during her interview as I mentioned above but word “husband” was not said by her even once. Oh well!

I FEEL SORRY FOR AAMIR BUT GLAD THAT ICC TAKES ACTION!

By Mahtab Bashir

mahtabbashir@gmail.com

Islamabad

Late Saturday night the three-member International Cricket Council (ICC) tribunal sent shockwaves across the cricketing world. The panel handed out punishments to Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir for their involvement in the spot-fixing scandal that gripped the world of cricket last August. Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has been banned for 10 years with a suspended sentence of five years, Mohammad Asif is banned for seven years with two years suspended and Mohammad Aamir has received a five-year ban.

Opinion in Pakistan has been divided over the spot-fixing issue. Some quarters rightly claim that these three have brought shame not just to cricket but also Pakistan and hence should have been severely punished. Whereas, like always, it is alleged that all teams and players are involved in one form or another of betting in cricket and this case is a conspiracy against Pakistan. A bitter pill we all must swallow is that, even if other individuals are involved in betting, these three were caught. An ICC, albeit hurried, enquiry took place and these three were found guilty.

Some concerns over the harshness of this verdict are raised but the ICC wanted to set an example. The message from the ICC was clear: it would not under any circumstances compromise the integrity of the sport. This decision for all purposes has finished the cricket careers of Butt and Asif. However, there is hope for 18-year-old Aamir. Aamir from his statement and body language looked like a boy who had just realised the consequences of his actions. He is the only one who has so far decided to appeal this verdict in the international Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). Given the recommendations made by the tribunal, “certain changes to the code with a view to providing flexibility in relation to minimum sentences in exceptional circumstances” might be made. The chances are the CAS, which is known to take a compassionate stance when it comes to young players, may yet come to Aamir’s aid.

However, this verdict only comes a day after the Crown Prosecution Service in England formally charged these three players for conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments and conspiracy to cheat. How the ICC verdict will affect the criminal proceedings and whether a fair trial can now take place, only time will tell.

PAKISTAN ALL SET TO RELEASE RAYMOND DAVIS?

Pakistan likely to release Davis soon: Report

WASHINGTON: Double murder-accused US diplomat Raymond Davis, who is currently under Pakistani police detention, may be released soon, officials have indicated. Two Pakistani officials in the United States told a foreign news agency that they expect Davis to be free in days, once the court goes over the documents submitted by US officials to prove his diplomatic status, Fox News reported on Saturday.

US officials say the accused US consulate worker in Lahore acted in self-defence in shooting and killing two armed Pakistani men, who approached him on the street after robbing someone else.

Publicly, Pakistani officials have avoided giving definitive statements on whether Davis qualifies for diplomatic immunity, saying that his fate is up to the court.

But the Pakistani officials who spoke to the news agency said that their government had to let the case proceed until the US produced the necessary documents on Davis’’ status. Pakistani Police believes that the evidence supported Davis’’ story, they added.

Davis was arrested soon after the January 27 shootings, and made a brief appearance in court on Thursday, while his next appearance is set for February 11. Besides the two men who were shot dead, a bystander was killed when an American car rushing to the scene to help Davis struck him.

MONA LISA IS A MALE: Italian Research

Appearances are deceptive!

ROME — Italian researchers who specialise in resolving art mysteries said Wednesday they have discovered the disputed identity of the model for Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa -- and claimed he was a man.

Silvano Vinceti, chairman of the Italian national committee for cultural heritage, said the Florence-born Renaissance artist's male apprentice and possible lover Salai was the main inspiration for the picture.

However his claim was immediately disputed by experts at the Louvre in Paris, where the painting is on display.

Salai, real name Gian Giacomo Caprotti, an effeminate young artist who worked with da Vinci for 25 years, is thought to have served as a model and muse for several of his paintings. The pair had an "ambiguous" relationship and were probably lovers, Vinceti said.

Comparisons between the facial characteristics of figures from several of da Vinci's works -- such as "St. John the Baptist" and the "Angel Incarnate" -- reveal striking similarities with the Mona Lisa's nose and mouth, he said. "There are remarkable similarities," Vinceti told reporters.

What is more, Vinceti said da Vinci had left clues to the model's identity in tiny letters L and S which he and his team found painted into the eyes of the Mona Lisa.

"Close examination of a high-quality digital copy of the portrait had revealed an L for Leonardo and an S for Salai," he said. But Vinceti's claims have been disputed by the Louvre museum.

The museum said it had carried out "every possible laboratory test possible" on the picture in 2004 and then again in 2009, and insisted that "no inscriptions, letters or numbers, were discovered during the tests."

"The ageing of the painting on wood has caused a great number of cracks to appear in the paint, which have caused a number of shapes to appear that have often been subject to over-interpretation," the Louvre told AFP.

The museum also said Vinceti's had made his claims without having had access to the painting itself.

The Italian aficionado, whose team gained notoriety with their claims surrounding the death of Caravaggio last year, said he felt sorry for the embarrassment the museum must feel on having missed the clues all these years.

"I can understand their incredulity and amazement -- after all this must be the most studied picture on earth," he told AFP, but added "they're really blind." "They have to be serious and accept that they didn't see what was right in front of their eyes," he said.

In order to clear up any lingering doubt over his theory -- worthy of Dan Brown's 2003 bestseller the "Da Vinci Code" -- Vinceti said he would be willing to take his team to France and collaborate on further tests with the Louvre.

"We're ready to go to Paris and extract a tiny bit of paint from the numbers and see whether they match the rest of the painting, to see if they were done at the same time or are marks that have appeared over time," he said.

Whether the prestigious art museum will take Vinceti up on his offer is yet to be seen.

AFP

END OF AN ARTIST PAR EXCELLENCE- KHAYYAM SARHADI

By Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
mahtabbashir@gmail.com
0333 53 63 248

I am no more a couch potato neither impressed by any performer on tube but he was the one I always adore since my childhood- as he is truly a versatile in every role he played. Khayyam Sarhadi- one of my all time favourite artist par excellence leaves this world.

This veteran TV, film, stage actor and Presidential Award holder versatile artist Pakistan has ever produced, Khayyam Sarhadi died of cardiac arrest during picturisation of a TV play here in Lahore on Thursday (February 3). He was 70.

His daughter said that he suffered the heart attack during the shooting of a drama, and was pronounced dead in a hospital.

Sarhadi started his career from theatre and later joined Pakistan Radio but he got fame from number of TV plays like Waris, Anokha Ladla and Manchaly Ka Soda. The actor also performed in three movies including Dakoo and Bobby but he left the film industry.

Son of pre-partition film producer and lyricist Zia Sarhadi, Khayyam Sarhadi acted in a number of popular PTV dramas like Man Chale Ka Sauda, Sooraj Key Saath Saath and Deep Se Deep Jale.

Since he was educated in England, he could not read Urdu and had to get his dialogues rendered in Roman.

He first married television actress Atiya Sharaf and then film actress Saiqa. His daughter Zille Sarhadi is an actress and model.

His father was a progressive person who produced three films, Hum Loag, Footpath and Awaz, before the partition. He also wrote lyrics for films like Lal Haveli, Jugnu and Anokha Pyar.

The actor is survived by two widows and three daughters.

ZARDARI TIES THE KNOT WITH ZAMANI?

CUPID STRIKES AHEAD OF V'DAY?

President of Pakistan Mr. Asif Ali Zardari (widower of Benazir Bhutto) just updated his status to ‘JUST MARRIED’. According to Muslim Shiyat Bylaws, Asif Ali Zardari tied the knot to Tanveer Zamani in Dubai recently. However, there was no official ceremony or announcement for this marriage, so far.

The weeding took place in Dubai last week. However the marriage religious vows, paper work and prenuptials have been confirmed. Nine black goats, 6 cows and 1 camel was sacrificed at this sacred occasion.

This happened 3 years after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. She is a Mediterranean descent American resident, and she lives in Gramercy Park, Manhattan, New York.

Zamani is a practicing physician and known to be a Bhutto party loyalist. She earned PhD degree in International Politics from UK. She owns estates in London, Dubai, Islamabad and Manhattan.

Zamani is a known Democrat and supported Obama’s 2008 election campaign. She actively participated in Obama’s Health Care reform bill to make it a law. Recently, she has been prohibited to attend the public political meetings due to her security issues. Pres. Zardari in a meeting with Obama on 1/14/11 in DC, requested his help in acquiring security for Zamani.

It has been claimed that Zardari is among the four richest men in Pakistan. It has been noticed that with the advent of Zamani in his life for the last 8 months, he has changed a lot. He seemed to find refuge in trusting her loyalty to him more than the party. The couple might have faced many domestic, social and political issues before they decided to turn this long distance, under cover- relationship into a life time partnership.

Many media analyst are still trying to find an evidence. They wonder what is behind this marriage; Love, political move or Wealth. The event was supposed to be an undisclosed sentinel secret, but it is released through a fashion designer company by a UAE news agency.

Tanveer Zamani Profile:
Tanveer Zamani is a Mediterranean descent American resident, and she lives in Gramercy Park, Manhattan, New York. Zamani is a practicing physician and known to be a Bhutto party loyalist. Tanveer Zamani earned PhD degree in International Politics from UK. Tanveer Zamani owns estates in London, Dubai, Islamabad and Manhattan. Zamani is a known Democrat and supported Obama’s 2008 election campaign. Tanveer Zamani actively participated in Obama’s Health Care reform bill to make it a law. Recently, Tanveer Zamani has been prohibited to attend the public political meetings due to security issues. President Asif Ali Zardari in a meeting with Obama on 1/14/11 in DC, requested his help in acquiring security for Zamani.

Asif Ali Zardari Profile:
Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in December 2007. Zardari became the Chairman of the PPP (Pakistan People Party). It has been said that Zardari is among the four richest men in Pakistan. In the 1988 elections, Bhutto became Prime Minister, and Zardari became a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. Zardari’s opponents began to use his nickname, “Mr 10%”, in reference to the charges of corruption against Zardari. Asif Zardari served in Jail from 1990 -1993 and 1997-2004.

Zardari seemed to have found refuge in trusting Zamani’s loyalty to him more than the PPP. The couple might have faced many domestic, social and political issues before they decided to turn this long distance, under cover- relationship into a life time partnership. It has been said that he needs a loyal partner in his life who could support him spiritually, physically and financially at his worse times. To choose a life partner might be a difficult decision for him before meeting Zamani, but she made it an easy shot to play since she seems not someone who would marry him for his assets and power. President Zardari made a good deal to marry an American citizen, since next time he would not go to a prison. He will be pulled out by her to Manhattan. It is presumed that the couple will officially announce the marriage at the end of his political Presidency term. Obviously which is not until after the next elections.

Will the party or Zardari loose a lot of popularity he cashed after the death of his ex-wife? Or Zamani will give him a new fame, name, and a life with the happiness that he never found in his last relation? His children Bakhtawar , Bilawal and Aseefa must understand the needs of their father who after taking care of their mother’s party has already proven his Loyalty to Bhuttos. Now, its their turn to let him move on with Zamani and spend in Manhattan a life he deserves.

RAYMOND DAVIS CASE: LEGAL PROCESS & PUBLIC PASSION

If there is one truth that the Raymond Davis affair has driven home it is that in Pakistan, sovereignty is a sham. The entire episode stinks of the impunity with which the US does as it pleases on our soil. That Raymond Davis shot two Pakistani youths, Faizan and Faheem — whether they were dacoits or not has yet to be proved — in an act that he terms as “self-defence” was shocking enough, but for the US to insist that the man be set free because of claimed ‘diplomatic immunity’ flies in the face of the facts, justice and fair play.

Reports are proliferating that Mr Davis was not just any routine embassy or consul official. Raymond Davis has been called many things. Washington calls him a ‘diplomat’ but there are reports suggesting that he was a private security officer. News reports have also shown evidence to suggest that he was not travelling with a diplomatic visa, that he had been booted out of Pakistan a year ago because of dubious activities and there were even some claims from Washington that his name was not Raymond Davis at all! That means, at the very least, that he had entered and left Pakistan repeatedly during the past year on a false passport. Now, under this cloak of ambiguity, lies a challenge to Pakistan’s much touted sovereignty.

The reports mentioned above suggest that Raymond Davis was an undercover operative and the circumstances surrounding the shooting show that he was also a trained one. After shooting the two boys with sniper-like precision, Davis asked for a back-up car, which then proceeded to kill a third man in a hit-and-run accident. The whereabouts of the driver and passengers of that car remain unknown and US embassy officials refuse to hand over any information or the vehicle. Washington is issuing statements almost daily about how Raymond Davis’s actions are covered by diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention, and that they expect him to be released and handed over to them. Meanwhile the Lahore High Court (LHC) has restrained the government from handing him over to the US and has directed that Davis’s name be put on the Exit Control List. This move by the LHC ought to silence the opposition, who were creating quite a ruckus about the likelihood of a ‘secret’ deal between the government and the US to hand Davis over. Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that the case will proceed according to the law of the land. The resignation of Punjab Deputy Prosecutor General Rana Bakhtiar became inevitable after he was removed from the sensitive case for statements to the media.

Diplomats, particularly those from the US, have been riding roughshod over our laws and citizens for a long time now. From traffic accidents, parking misdemeanours and blatant disregard for the lives and safety of the average Pakistani, embassy officials have been implicated in some rather messy matters but have been let off the hook simply because the immunity provided to them, literally, saved their skins. Such antics have served to make a mockery of the dignity, honour and respect that the host country deserves. Now that Raymond Davis, whether acting in self-defence or not, has got the blood of two Pakistani citizens on his hands, it has become clear how foreign diplomats and embassy staff view us. This murder has given the many anti-democratic forces and anti-US elements out there a reason to come out onto the streets and berate the government for not protecting Pakistan’s sovereignty. It is not too late for the government to turn over a new leaf and act in defence of the independence and sovereignty of Pakistan. As seems increasingly likely, if investigations indicate that Mr Davis does not have diplomatic cover, he must be tried and convicted according to the laws of Pakistan. This state-endorsed impunity that has emboldened US officials to commit daylight murder must end.