The bullying ‘chief of staff’ of Gen (retd) Musharraf

LONDON: A self-proclaimed “chief of staff” and security guard of Pervez Musharraf threatened Shaukat Aziz with physical violence and he had to be restrained by two men from harming the former premier a few days ago in London, several sources and Shaukat Aziz’s close friends confirmed the occurrence of the incidence.
At a private function attended by former president’s close friend, Anjum Parvaz, who is known by various names such as Lord Jim and his preferred name of Jim Chaudhry, openly hurled insults at the former premier over suspicions that the banker was briefing the former president on him and was advising Musharraf to get rid of Jim.
The daredevil attack on the former prime minister in front of a selected social gathering, including the wives and partners of those in attendance, shocked everyone and the gathering was soon dispersed to prevent a real brawl taking place. At least three insiders who were present at that gathering have told The News that Shaukat Aziz has been living in fear for his life ever since the incidence occurred as the man who publicly abused him openly said that he is “the most dangerous man in London” and claimed he has connections with the British police and the London underworld.
It is perhaps for this reason and for the continuing association of Musharraf with Jim that Aziz, who is currently in Australia on a high-profile banking assignment, decided to stay away from launch of the All Pakistan Muslim League in London and a public rally in Birmingham. Jim Chaudhry, however denied having ever threatened Shaukat Aziz in the presence of Pervez Musharraf. When approached by The News, he said: “I never said anything to Shaukat Aziz. There is a lot of propaganda against me and some people who are also close to former president Musharraf are jealous of me. They are spreading lies about me.” However after this correspondent sought his version, he demanded that the story should not be published and also used several others to call this correspondent to request that the story be dropped. Shaukat Aziz was not available for comments because of his engagement in Australia but one of his trusted friends insisted that the former premier was verbally assaulted. Ironically, before becoming the chief lieutenant of Musharraf, Jim was once a friend of former cricket star-turned-politician Imran Khan, who was then the most sought-after bachelor in London.
Interestingly, Khan ceased contacts with Jim in 1996 after he saw in astonishment the late legendary singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan storm out of a charity gig for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital in London where the late Princess Diana was the chief guest and Khan’s former wife Jemima Khan was playing the leading role. The music maestro had warned the organisers that he would not tolerate the presence of Jim at the event because, according to the great maestro, Jim, after becoming the handling agent for the singer in the UK, had not fulfilled his commitments on many occasions and there were money issues involved between them.
There is no suggestion that Imran Khan is in contact with him anymore but Jim has apparently become the most trusted man of Musharraf for reasons which baffles the sincerest of supporters of the former president.
Jim is literally acting as the so-called chief of staff and in-charge of operations of the former president. He has taken over control of Musharraf’s diary and friends say Musharraf trusts Jim a lot and doesn’t step outside without his shadow. Jim has travelled with Musharraf to his speaking tours in the US, Europe and Middle East and doesn’t leave his side for a single moment.
This proximity has caused a great level of consternation amongst the APML chief’s close family friends and workers and leaders of the newly-formed party but nobody dares to utter a word against Jim, fearing repercussions, including verbal and real assaults.
“Musharraf was stunned when he saw Shaukat Aziz being humiliated in front of over a dozen guests,” an eyewitness told The News, who was present on the occasion when the former PM was verbally assaulted.
A close mutual friend of Aziz and Musharraf told The News on the condition of anonymity that Aziz had advised Musharraf that he should not be seen too much with Jim as it could distort his image and was also not good for Musharraf’s political ambitions.
“This news somehow made its way to Chaudhry who made it a point to humiliate Shaukat Aziz in front of the most trusted friends of Musharraf so that a clear message goes out to everyone,” said the source. Insiders say from Rashid Qureshi down to UK-based activists of the APML, no-one likes Musharraf’s association with Jim but the former president is keeping him on his side against everyone’s advice. Jim has been seen opening the speaker of his phone when speaking to Musharraf in public to assure the public that his connections with the former president Pakistan are for real.