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Updated 06 Jul, 2016

In most countries, top politicians celebrate important holidays with their loved ones at home, or with their constituents. Case in point, on Christmas, the Obamas venture out to their go-to holiday spot in the US of A: Hawaii.

But Pakistan is not most countries! Come Eid, many of our top politicians will say bye bye to Pakistan and hello to Inglestan, aka London Town.

Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari along with his sisters, Bakhtawar and Asifa, have left for England from Karachi, a Bilawal House spokesperson confirmed to Dawn.com on Monday.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) Waseem Akhtar will also be spending the holidays in London, MQM Spokesman Wasay Jalil said, adding that senior party leader Dr Farooq Sattar is in Karachi at the moment.

Earlier, a PML-N source told Dawn that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif have left for London and were due to return to Pakistan with Nawaz, who is in the British capital where he underwent heart surgery last month. However, Maryam has since clarified that she is celebrating Eid in Lahore:

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, will also celebrate Eid with his sisters at his ancestral home in Zaman Park, Lahore.

But Khan is scheduled to leave for London later this week to watch Pakistan's first of the four Tests against England, at the historic Lord's Cricket Ground, with his sons.

The move is not unprecedented, as the country's leaders have, in the past, celebrated the occasion abroad.

We wonder what they'll be getting up to in London this time around?

Could they, like Nawaz Sharif, be sourcing a brand new wardrobe? Business is likely to be booming in Mayfair, come this weekend.

And what's Eid holidays without a slew of dinner parties? Will they bury the hatchet and invite each other for dinner? There are London properties to be shown off, and these guys know from experience that eating out in the age of camera phones isn't such a great idea. (Remember the backlash when PM Nawaz dared to grab a meal at a restaurant before his heart surgery?) You know what that means... it's dawat time!

Or maybe our politicians will have more practical pursuits, like disposing off troublesome property and the like?

We're not really surprised that London's their sweet escape time and time again. It is, after all, where they can roam around without protocol. Maybe our politicians just want a vacation from their VVIP status and chill out like the rest of us nobodies? They just might get to know how the common folk live.


Reporting by Imran Gabol, Raza Khan, Sammer Abbas, Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi

Comments

Kashif Jul 05, 2016 05:30pm
Indeed, the Waderas have their hearts..where their money is!
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Amir Jul 05, 2016 05:31pm
IK has legitimate reasons to go to London! His sons live there and he's going for the cricket, which is part Khan! But, the others? The love of money and trying to get away from PK! They can't stand living in Pakistan! UK, please please please just keep them! We don't want them back!
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Hasan Jul 05, 2016 05:40pm
Home is where the heart is.
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IAB Jul 05, 2016 05:42pm
The London properties have lost their value all of a sudden due to Brexit, so these guys might be going to get some good deals ....
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Libra11 Jul 05, 2016 05:42pm
Spot on ..... you replied already 'They just might get to know how common folk live'
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Ghaznavi Jul 05, 2016 05:42pm
shows their dedication to the poor nation
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Art changes everything Jul 05, 2016 05:43pm
While the people of Pakistan are is burning in hell without electricity or security our politicians are enjoying cool air of London. Sigh!
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Kaka Jul 05, 2016 05:47pm
Kids of privileged class! What else do you expect?
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Harmony-1© Jul 05, 2016 05:49pm
They just come here to lord over us and tell us what to do and for us to serve them when they are here. Not just festivities, the businesses, healthcare, shopping and what not is all abroad - Such great life we have given them!
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SyedAhmed, Canada Jul 05, 2016 05:52pm
London ! it is their second home.
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naji Jul 05, 2016 05:53pm
In the eyes of Pakistani politician, Pakistan is a Gold, Silver and copper mine. They earn, loot, plunder and runaway to their real countries.
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Ur neighbour Jul 05, 2016 05:55pm
Our PM Narendra Modi use to celebrate Diwali at Siachen with Indian Army. Proud of him.
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J. Yamla Jul 05, 2016 05:59pm
Shame on these leaders. Average person is suffering and our leaders ar enjoying ...
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Naeem Jul 05, 2016 06:11pm
Spending public money to visit London is easy. When you spend your own money it is different
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Hamid Shafiq Jul 05, 2016 06:11pm
Imported rulers to lead a foreign country
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Skeptic Jul 05, 2016 06:11pm
Because they have no love for Pakistan or its people. But love to Lord over and loot their hard earned money, and party at Pakistani taxpayer's expense. All other rhetoric is just that with bogus claims, and crocodile tears about risk to democracy.
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Zak Jul 05, 2016 06:19pm
When I read these news about them my bp shoots up asap. My question is do they really have any concern with Pakistan, if no then why these corrupt families come back to Pakistan? Just for robbing us pathetic people.
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SHAH Jul 05, 2016 06:27pm
Its required as they have NO MONEY in PAKISTAN ... All their money is in Swisse Banks, London Banks, USA Banks, Canary Islands, Dubai Banks and in Spanish, French and German Banks; So, how is it possible to celebrate in Pakistan in poverty with no money; It is for Pakistanis poor Pakistanis to celebrate in Pakistan and admire their leaders swimming in money and lots of wealth.. stolen from Pakistani people;.
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Realzak Jul 05, 2016 06:30pm
Eid outside medical outside and Pakistan just for looting and getting respect, way too much tolerance we Pakistanis have.Now it must end.
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Sami Ullah Swati Jul 05, 2016 06:30pm
Celebration in London! Treatment in London! Schooling in London! as these two political dynasties failed to trust their own hospitcals and schools. Now they don't trust the cultural significance of Eid in Pakistan and hence..
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Jamal Feerasta Jul 05, 2016 06:34pm
Disgusting news but what to expect from shameless leaders. Yet, we keep electing them - so it is not their fault to steal from the victims, it their democratic right, we gave it to them.
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dawn Jul 05, 2016 06:48pm
Pakistan's off shore leaders/government.
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lafanga Jul 05, 2016 06:48pm
Utterly despicable. How can anyone vote for these corrupt and inept so called leaders
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Hidayat Jul 05, 2016 06:49pm
Wednesday is a normal working day here in the UK, and children will be attending schools as usual, so no celebrations as such for a common man, however these self-proclaimed VIPs can do whatever they want as they have billions in banks and are coming here to deposit a few millions more.
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iqbal Khan Jul 05, 2016 06:52pm
May be Bilawal , Altaf Hussain , Zardai and Nawaz Sharief offer eid namaz together .
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Amjad Wyne Jul 05, 2016 06:53pm
Do not blame them - we, as a nation, deserve God's wrath and these leaders are just the beginning.
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Akil Akhtar Jul 05, 2016 06:53pm
Pakistan is now being ruled by brown foreigners after getting freedom from white foreigners 69 years ago
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Akil Akhtar Jul 05, 2016 06:56pm
I voted for NS in early days of his career but now his family's arrogance disgusts me.... The children need to be brought down to earth....
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ahaq Jul 05, 2016 06:59pm
What a shame? I would not consider these people as leaders, because they have no patriotic feelings for their country and lack empathy for millions of suffering people in Pakistan who need help
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Omar Jul 05, 2016 07:02pm
Go wherever, but go with your own halal money.
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Rashid Sultan Jul 05, 2016 07:04pm
Do we care about these off shore politicians? Where is jarnail sahib spending Id? In Canada perhaps where he will retire to in Nov/Dec.
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Asif Kidwai Jul 05, 2016 07:05pm
woo interesting ..... instead of celebrating with their own people.
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TROLL Jul 05, 2016 07:08pm
My tax money :'(
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Rizwan Jul 05, 2016 07:32pm
All of our major politicians have their assets abroad, businesses abroad, kids abroad, treatment abroad and all of their interests abroad So why would they be celebrating Eid here? I wish someday we as a nation realise all these facts and elect some one who is more interested in its own country and people.
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Aslam Shaikh Jul 05, 2016 07:35pm
I hope you know that Modi celebrated both of his Diwali vacation in Kashmir and with soldiers
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khan idris Jul 05, 2016 07:36pm
easy come easy go.poor pakistani.
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Tariq Mahmood Jul 05, 2016 07:54pm
Tell us something we don't already know.
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MASHMAN Jul 05, 2016 08:06pm
These so called leaders of ours are not here to serve the people who voted for them but to make best of the opportunity to loot the coffers of this country and the wretched people they have come to serve.
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AG Jul 05, 2016 08:07pm
No comments you said it "In most countries, top politicians celebrate important holidays with their loved ones at home"
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M Jamal Jul 05, 2016 08:11pm
Lady Marcus of the Philippines used to shop from Mayfair on people's account and finally left the wardrobe for history to be remembered as a family of looters/ dacoit.Bhuttos and Sharifs must learn from history.
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MUGHNI Jul 05, 2016 08:16pm
What else you expect from these corrupted politicians.
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Fazal-e-akbar Safi Jul 05, 2016 08:20pm
Nothing different, it's a routine for them. People usually prefer to spend their festivals with their loved ones in their ancestral homes and they are doing exactly the same.
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Prismatic Jul 05, 2016 08:22pm
As if we are still ruled by Londoners. No big deal we are quite happy and comfortable without them.
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Haroon Jul 05, 2016 08:23pm
Pakistani leaders with no interest in Pakistan.( such a shame)
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Qamar Valliani Jul 05, 2016 08:28pm
@Ur neighbour p, Our Modi is doing this and our Modi is doing that. Don't Indian trolls have nothing else to comment besides Modi?
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Mahmood Jul 05, 2016 09:10pm
Many are bemoaning the shameless high life being enjoyed by the ruling classes at people's expense. But people elected these fake leaders. And people ultimately get the leaders they deserve . So swallow up, step forward, and throw in a few more pounds into the pot, for the benefit and comfort of the aristocats. You chose to give them the pampered life. Stop complaining about lack of water or electricity.( Pun intended)!
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ahaq Jul 05, 2016 09:30pm
Ver sad indeed when Pakistanis gave these people a status and positiion and they abuse it
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Ahmed Jul 05, 2016 09:33pm
Khan will celebrate EID @ Zaman Park Lahore, that says it all!! Why to add that he will fly to UK for Pakistan England Match after the EID?? Don't try to discredit IK.
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na ji na Jul 05, 2016 09:36pm
Pakistan still acts as a colony of Britishers. All your politicians operate from UK. I wont spare IK from this. He also married a British girl, both his sons live there. His second wife also was raised in UK. His bank accounts in UK. What else you need.
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Pathanoo Jul 05, 2016 09:52pm
Wouldn't you leave for London if you could?
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AD Jul 05, 2016 10:08pm
If they have the means, let them have their vacations where they want. Haven't these guys worked hard to get where they are?
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me Jul 05, 2016 10:12pm
@lafanga :) just watch the next election.
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Safdar Jul 05, 2016 10:42pm
I think news should be "which leader is celebrating their Eid at home"....
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Kallol Guha Jul 05, 2016 10:42pm
The Anglo-American West- with a stroke of genius- has developed an immensely effective mechanism of domesticating South Asians into their reliable poodles. Such domestication is achieved through control of schooling system and mainstream media. Two instruments that can culturally condition people to marginalize everything indigenous and glorify things that are from Anglo-American West. Skillful use of these tools have enabled Anglo-American West to take control of the huge South Asian Market of 1.6 billion strong. Report of Pakistani politicians making trips to the countries of their masters are measurable outcomes of West's successful domestication of the entire South Asian market. Why you medias fellows do not explain these brutal facts?
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Enaam Hanid Jul 05, 2016 10:49pm
@Amir . Maryam parents and brothers are also in London. For your poor information.
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Khurram Jul 05, 2016 11:30pm
Pakistan is not their Home. Pakistan is their plundering ground.
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Amin Ansari Jul 06, 2016 12:05am
Unfair to bundle IK with other politicians who have gone abroad. He spent Eid with IDPs previously. Now with family in Pakistan. He is true son of the soil.
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Sami Jul 06, 2016 12:29am
They are the leaders of the Pakistan, usually groomed in palaces to lead the poor nation from abroad. EID MUBARAK.
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Cashiph Jul 06, 2016 12:40am
These are our chosen ones ... so don't be abusive or say bad words for them ... we choose to be slave and they are treated us like slave .... so what is the problem
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Arjun Jul 06, 2016 12:56am
Lol leaders & Politicians of Pakistan make me laugh
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imran Jul 06, 2016 01:11am
IK I can understand, but the rest live for london and Pakistan is just the where they come to beg the USA for more real estate and shopping money.
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F.S.Shah Jul 06, 2016 01:16am
@Ur neighbour - Please stop bragging It is not nice and civilized. However I must say the people of the sub continent have a habit of bragging and braying on every issue. Learn to take life as it comes. You are not only the people occupying this planet .
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farook ahmed Jul 06, 2016 01:17am
These are our future leaders?
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Dilip One Jul 06, 2016 01:22am
Looks like a lot of people here commenting on who should or should not go to London. Why dont you decide for yourself. Nobody is telling you whether to go or not? Why they cannot go to London for eid if they can? Why not you also work hard and be able to do it for yourself and for your children? However if you think they should not get the political position, actively work towards computerizing voting system and convincing your friends and family to vote for the best candidate. Or just go out, and read from the back of a rickshaw 'mehnat kar, hasad na kar'! Stop whining now.
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Ghani K (KPK) Jul 06, 2016 01:41am
ThesePakistani politicians want to spend Eid in their Comfort Zone, which happens to be London. Wonder if they ever thought of spending Eid with the soldiers fighting the war in Waziristan or with displaced people of FATA. Of course not, it is too risky.
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ibs Jul 06, 2016 01:45am
The fact that Imran Khan is in Pakistan for Eid is all thats important. Doesn't matter what he's going to do in the coming week.
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khurram Jul 06, 2016 01:48am
It hurts to know that these two might rule pakistan in future
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Ali Jul 06, 2016 01:58am
On this eid occasion I pray these corrupt rulers kids do not Come into power. Pakistan had already suffered a lot they have made good futures for their families abroad and made us living miserably.
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B.Patel. U.S.A Jul 06, 2016 02:49am
Current Ghandhi family in India has been doing the same for a long time going back for few generations. Something about South Asia that supports such parasites willingly . Glad that India has not selected such so called Royalties now.
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Sana Jul 06, 2016 03:09am
Learn something from Modi.... Celebrates with poor than rich!
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Kyoorius Jul 06, 2016 04:04am
@Zak You answered your own question. But your answer is true.
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Akhtar Jul 06, 2016 04:16am
Jealous! What's wrong with that; politicians are also people.
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Jalaluddin S. Hussain Jul 06, 2016 04:27am
Until the common people of Pakistan realize this and not vote for the "looters", they will continue celebrating in London!
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Rafay Azhar Jul 06, 2016 05:00am
We have no right to complain. It is our fault. We vote these people in over and over again. Will we ever learn??
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Happy Eid Jul 06, 2016 05:39am
It will be so good if they can stay there 'forever'.
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Abbas Syed Jul 06, 2016 05:56am
Probably they became aware of something up in the GHQ at the end of the fasting month of Ramzan.
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Bharat Jul 06, 2016 06:09am
@Aslam Shaikh ASLAM Why are you so focused on Modi Were you brought up with the hate-for-others that Heena rabbani was talking about
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Fahad Faisal Jul 06, 2016 08:05am
Who really cares where they spend their holidays. Besides, the PM's daughter, and Bilawal Zardari are not politicians. Leave the kids alone. Move along people. Do the best you can for yourself and don't kill brain cells fuming over where these people spend their holidays. Besides, even if they spend it in Pakistan (I know I wouldn't), you won't be invited to dinner. Comprende?
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Akhtar, USA Jul 06, 2016 08:32am
Imran loves Pakistan because he celebrating his with his sister.Yeah right!
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Umar Jul 06, 2016 09:04am
@Akil Akhtar what about rest of his relations in cabinet and they shamelessly call this democracy ..... Wake up people..
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Manuj Jul 06, 2016 09:06am
On the other hand MOdi celebrate Diwali on Border with soldiers every year... Learn leaders Learn
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MA Jul 06, 2016 09:28am
@Zak Because my friend you give them vote , is simple as that, not a rocket scence to figure that out, so relax and don,t burn your blood. GOD never changes faith of any nation unless they themselve want to. Be happy and Eid Mubarak
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Arun-KS Jul 06, 2016 09:30am
Every body knows dos and don'ts of others. The only thing one does not know is what he should do or not do. If someone goes beyond boundaries in vacation, what is wrong in it? They serve nation, public. They have chosen this as their career and perform as per their capability. But they are not slaves of anyone. People behave as they are fault-free and ethics-teachers of all. Give them breathing space and respect their private life. Let them live and lead their life as per their own wish.
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Javed Jul 06, 2016 10:00am
I would too, if I could, but I cannot, so I don't.
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Saj Khan Jul 06, 2016 10:50am
Eid mubbarak !
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Fahad Faisal Jul 06, 2016 07:56pm
@Pathanoo First sincere comment! Indeed. Would any Pakistani celebrate Eid in London if they could? Most would!
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shami Jul 06, 2016 09:34pm
Hope Mr. PM is having good health now. We are anxiously waiting to welcome him in his office again
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Fahad Faisal Jul 07, 2016 06:39am
@Akhtar Well said, Akhtar.
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Sarwat Jul 07, 2016 10:32am
Patriotic families of Patriotic politicians
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sadary Jul 08, 2016 05:31pm
London is like a cylinder of oxygen - fresh clean air. This is a quote a Pakistani I once met it London told me.
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ARFAN ASLAM khan Jul 09, 2016 02:30am
We need to get rid off Pakistani Leader and his whole family for good,they are nere never in Pakistan when his people need ed the most,this greedy and power hungry people are good for nothing,I beg the people of Pakistan to wake up and stand for your rights,I assure you you will not be worse off than what you are now. Pakistan Zinda baad.
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Jul 11, 2016 01:26am
@iqbal Khan if they don't then they should; they need to pray for forgiveness as much as possible!
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