While humour pages are being prepared for posting in few days, this is just to launch the section. I have been thinking, why there are no jokes about General Pervaiz Musharraf? We have spared no political figures in the past, starting from Ayub Khan and all the following. Late General Zia and Mian Nawaz Sharif were garlanded with scores of jokes. Why such barrenness for General Musharraf then? Is he so humourless or so or lusterless? or are people scarred? The anonymous joke writer is not scarred of anyone, as we all know. Why then? I don't know the answer but I feel bad for him. He is personally so witty and spontaneous (I can vouch that from personal contact); perhaps the first truly genuine 'you and me' like head of State that we have had. No matter what your political stance regarding him, his personal charm and disarming demeanor is so refreshing and endearing.
As a tribute to him, I will launch this section with a joke about General Musharraf. Here it goes.........
A senior correspondent from Washington Post was sent to Pakistan to assess the public perception about the new regime. He arrived in Lahore and was staying at the P.C. After lunch he was sitting in the lobby when he saw a group of boisterous businessmen emerge from a conference room discussing current affairs. One of them came and sat besides him. He introduced himself and asked the businessman if he would answer a few questions. The businessman agreed. The correspondent asked him what he thought of the General? The businessman became uncomfortable, looked around nervously and said he couldn't answer such a question.
"Why?" asked the correspondent.
"Too crowded here." the businessman replied.
The correspondent became very curious and asked him to go for a drive with him. As they drove down the Mall, the correspondent asked him again. The businessman pointed towards the driver of the rented car and refused again. The correspondent was so excited now at the mystery. He asked the driver to drive out of Lahore. They arrived at a desolated canal bank, got out of the car and walked along the canal bank to a desolate place. The correspondent asked again, "Now you can tell me honestly what do you think of the General? I promise to keep it confidential".
The businessman looked around nervously and whispered, "Actually, I like him!"