Snakes and Ladders
In keeping with speculation in the media, Javed Jabbar ultimately quit the Federal ladder, resigning also as Advisor to the Chief Executive (CE) on National Affairs. In a surprising move, Shafqat Jamote, the Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, also departed, albeit for different reasons. Rumours of an internecine battle for media turf had been fanned assiduously by those with motivated interest. One feels Javed Jabbar was not slotted properly, his genius of speaking should still be used by the CE to articulate the government’s viewpoint at the higher levels in world capitals. He would have been more than useful as a Foreign Minister, however since one strongly believes Shaukat Aziz would be much more potent in that role, as an Ambassador-at-Large with the rank of Federal Minister. Javed Jabbar could be a trouble-shooter extraordinary whenever and wherever Pervez Musharraf feels Pakistan’s basic message was not getting across to those who mattered or that Indian propaganda needed to be countered where it mattered. Shafqat Jamote acted rather hastily, one feels he could have exercised greater patience.
