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I came across this interesting article on Pakistani PM's recent visit to US. Is the White House upset their favourite DICTATOR is ousted by a democratically elected govt. ?
PM walks, lavish spending but no seats for media
PM walks, lavish spending but no seats for media
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
By our special correspondent
WASHINGTON: Pakistani diplomats are unable to explain why Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and his entourage were treated almost with contempt when they arrived at the Andrews Air Force Base on Sunday afternoon.
The prime minister was made to walk from his plane to the shed, almost a two-three minute walk, where at the shed gate none higher than Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher met him. During the walk, Gilani and his wife were seen quite perturbed as neither there was an ordinary carpet nor the customary red carpet, as is usual on official visits.
All ministers and others were told to stay in the aircraft, including Information Minister Sherry Rehman, who also mildly protested at the treatment they were getting. A junior US official who had come to the aircraft to escort the PM reportedly told the minister that there was a threat of a thunderstorm and so they would be safer inside the aircraft but what baffled everyone was that PM Gilani was not provided a car to drive up to the welcome shed and had to walk, despite the thunderstorm threat.
Journalists and some others had to wait for more than eight hours at the airport to get cleared by the US Immigration. Either the Pakistani diplomats had not properly informed the US Immigration as to how many people were coming or they did not bother to bring enough personnel as only one Immigration officer was posted with a laptop and he took hours to clear each member, one after another, without direct immediate access to the immigration and other databases.
The delay for the journalists was exhausting and some of them reached the hotel in Washington DC almost six to eight hours after landing at the Andrews. No Pakistani diplomat or official helped them in their ordeal.
A senior diplomat explained that the embassy had told Islamabad that all journalists accompanying the PM must have the proper media visas if they were to avoid delays and even deportation. Some travelling on visit (B-1) visas were also under the threat of denial of entry as they were coming to work as journalists and the B-1 visas were not meant for work.
The media covering the PM, including both the US-based correspondents and those who have come from Pakistan, were loudly complaining of discrimination as most of senior journalists were not invited by Mr and Mrs Hussain Haqqani to official dinner for the prime minister on Monday night although more than 100 guests were there. Many of the senior journalists were seen at the Washington Press Club on Monday evening when they should actually have been listening to their prime minister and talking to other senior US administration officials at the ambassador’s residence.
While no explanation is available for this treatment, at least lack of funds is not one valid reason as spending by the embassy has been lavish with huge floral bouquets delivered to all important members of the delegation at the expensive Willard Hotel in the heart of Washington, each costing at least $150. Adding a few more seats to the dinner table may not have cost the embassy more than two floral bouquets.
PM walks, lavish spending but no seats for media
PM walks, lavish spending but no seats for media
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
By our special correspondent
WASHINGTON: Pakistani diplomats are unable to explain why Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and his entourage were treated almost with contempt when they arrived at the Andrews Air Force Base on Sunday afternoon.
The prime minister was made to walk from his plane to the shed, almost a two-three minute walk, where at the shed gate none higher than Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher met him. During the walk, Gilani and his wife were seen quite perturbed as neither there was an ordinary carpet nor the customary red carpet, as is usual on official visits.
All ministers and others were told to stay in the aircraft, including Information Minister Sherry Rehman, who also mildly protested at the treatment they were getting. A junior US official who had come to the aircraft to escort the PM reportedly told the minister that there was a threat of a thunderstorm and so they would be safer inside the aircraft but what baffled everyone was that PM Gilani was not provided a car to drive up to the welcome shed and had to walk, despite the thunderstorm threat.
Journalists and some others had to wait for more than eight hours at the airport to get cleared by the US Immigration. Either the Pakistani diplomats had not properly informed the US Immigration as to how many people were coming or they did not bother to bring enough personnel as only one Immigration officer was posted with a laptop and he took hours to clear each member, one after another, without direct immediate access to the immigration and other databases.
The delay for the journalists was exhausting and some of them reached the hotel in Washington DC almost six to eight hours after landing at the Andrews. No Pakistani diplomat or official helped them in their ordeal.
A senior diplomat explained that the embassy had told Islamabad that all journalists accompanying the PM must have the proper media visas if they were to avoid delays and even deportation. Some travelling on visit (B-1) visas were also under the threat of denial of entry as they were coming to work as journalists and the B-1 visas were not meant for work.
The media covering the PM, including both the US-based correspondents and those who have come from Pakistan, were loudly complaining of discrimination as most of senior journalists were not invited by Mr and Mrs Hussain Haqqani to official dinner for the prime minister on Monday night although more than 100 guests were there. Many of the senior journalists were seen at the Washington Press Club on Monday evening when they should actually have been listening to their prime minister and talking to other senior US administration officials at the ambassador’s residence.
While no explanation is available for this treatment, at least lack of funds is not one valid reason as spending by the embassy has been lavish with huge floral bouquets delivered to all important members of the delegation at the expensive Willard Hotel in the heart of Washington, each costing at least $150. Adding a few more seats to the dinner table may not have cost the embassy more than two floral bouquets.
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