One of our teachers Mrs. Dean at St. Josephs Convent, Karachi related the following story to us when in 1969, Bhutto was leading marches against President Ayub Khan for his ouster: Quote- I was tutoring English and Maths to the children of Ayub Khan and shortly after he became the President, i was at his house and his wife was discussing about purchasing gold bangles with me, when the President happened to pass by. He stopped and looked at his wife and chided her, saying that the country is going through a turbulent period and all you can think of is purchasing gold bangles?. Unquote. Our teacher had tears in her eyes as she narrated this story and was sad at the state of affairs unfolding in the country at that time. In 1974 when President Ayub Khan passed away, I was in Islamabad for my cousins wedding. Her in laws knew his family so we all drove to his house in Islamabad. It was packed with mourners. It was a simple but tastefully decorated house. The funeral procession was thronged by people from all walks of life. Next day we drove across to Abbottabad, stopping first at Rehana (his ancestral village) and then up to Mansehra to Gauhar Ayubs home on a hill. The family was still at Rehana for the funeral and soyem. The door was opened by the Presidents Batman from his army days. The old man greeted us, with tears falling unashamedly down his cheeks. The living room had a beautiful Persian carpet hanging on the wall ( a personal gift from the Shah of Iran, not state gift). He took us to he Presidents bedroom. It was such a simple room. A single bed with a white bedsheet and a dark green blanket. Dark wood floor and panelling on one wall. A bureau desk and chair. An armchair by the window. A fireplace. Two walls lined with books from ceiling to floor, bound volumes, encyclopaedias, books, books every where, by his bedside, on the desk. My mamoo who retired as Chief of Flight Engineering PIA has flown Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Bhutto, Zia-ul-Haq on state visits to various countries. He always says that President Ayub was the most decent and non-assuming of them all. Arifa Admirable. How low we have fallen since! A post received on face book is placed below that portrays a rulers conduct when Pakistan was at its best. For the information of all and sundry, I am reproducing below what FM Ayubs ADC, Adm [R] Ahmad Tasnim has to say about his State visit to the USA: From: Ahmad Tasnim Since I accompanied Ayub Khan as his NAVAL ADC, allow me to add following for knowledge. A. We travelled by PIA commercial flight which proceeded on schedule with full load of passengers. Ayub Khan shook hand with every passenger once flight was air borne. President shared toilet with other first class passengers and no one was offloaded for any reason. B. For transit stop at London (both ways)President stayed with High Commissioner and I roughed it out in small room next door. C. There were only about dozen people in official delegation including one lady ( daughter Nasim). NO MAIDS. She will help herself with borrowed iron from hotel. Only one batman(Havaldar Abdus Salam) and because of language problem I mostly helped him out. For short trips outside Washington needing change of dress etc President helped himself, politely asking for my assistance if required D. Any body taking Spouse in delegation paid for it. This is absolutely correct. E. Strict Code of Conduct was expected from Delegation Members including Personal Staff. During one such visit a VIP was sent back to Pakistan by next flight because he overslept?? F. Though unbelievable yet it is true that President never went for shopping. Some ties and shirts were purchased by personal staff from his personal account. During my tenure at least shopping for President never exceeded couple of hundred Pounds. Let me add another point that in Ayub Khan time office of ADCs and their living quarters were not air conditioned as we were not entitled according to our rank. Can you believe this? NOW COMPARE THE ROYAL STYLE OF OUR RULERS FROM 1972 onwards.....of course present ones have beaten all record for spending Tax Payers money. Ahmad Tasnim
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 06:25:27 +0000
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