On one hand some people of Pakistan are forced to sell their children due to hunger and poverty and on the other hand the President of same country spent about 70,000 British Pound to stay in a hotel room for four days on a private visit to UK. 

According to a  report published in daily newspaper The News,”A total of about 68,000 pounds (Rs 8 million) were paid only on account of room rent for four nights of the hotel facing the Hyde Park, London.” Upper House was taken by surprise on February 28, 2008 when Senator Azam Swati stood up on a point of order to drop the bombshell that President Musharraf had stayed in a hotel where the rent per night was 17,000 pounds and he lived in this royal family suite for four nights. “Look how our president has lavishly spent the taxpayers’ money in London,” Swati said, waving a report in his hands which clearly mentioned that the hotel was paid Rs 2 million rent per night. 

During his four-day stay, President Musharraf had only one big official engagement – one-hour meeting with PM Gordon Brown. The British Foreign Office had also made it clear that Musharraf was not invited by the UK but he himself had requested to visit London.

During the rest of the three days there, Musharraf spent time with his old buddy Brig Niaz with whom he played bridge. Then, former prime minister Shaukat Aziz took him out for a lavish dinner at a Japanese restaurant. Musharraf also addressed a think-tank and members of the Pakistani community.

The presidential entourage, which visited London along with him, included PM’s Adviser on Finance Dr Salman Shah, Petroleum Minister Ehsanullah Khan, Governor State Bank of Pakistan Dr Shamshad Akhtar, Commerce Minister Shahzada Manoo Alam, Maj-Gen (retd) Rashid Qureshi, Adviser Dr Ashfaq, Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan, Secretary Board of Investment Mushtaq Malik and others. They all stayed at the same hotel, but it is not known how much was spent on their rents per night.

For those who are wondering about the hotel, he stayed at Royal Penthouse The Dorchester, London.  

How can a president of a developing country spend about Rupees 8 millions just to spend four days? This money could have helped to feed thousands of hungery Pakistanis for few months. The president Musharaf may not feel accountable for this plundering of money, but as a Muslim I  do beleive that he will be accountable for it on the Day of Judgement.