Lononaut

The High Commission of Pakistan in Singapore hosted an event with Rabia Shafiq. Singapore might be a downgrade for Mrs. Shafiq, who’s lived in Chicago, Oxford, Paris, and Ankara while speaking fluent English, French, and Urdu. Even most of the questions were provincial, but I can’t discuss “off-the-record” Q&As. Let’s just say if you praise Pakistan for promoting women, you should know India and Pakistan have already achieved female prime ministers (Indira Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto), progress eluding both Singapore and the United States. 1 As has been the case with Pakistan, relations with India loomed large. Obviously, I cannot discuss the Q&A session, so please do not attribute any of the following statements or opinions to Mrs. Shafiq. As I devoured the kheer (rice pudding)—one tray with almonds, one without—two men approached me and answered the more controversial questions Mrs. Shafiq deflected. The formal portion of the session involved Mrs. Shafiq promoting Pakistan’s h...