This plaque on the wall of the lobby at the Islamabad Club is always good for refreshing one’s memory of the list of heads of state Pakistan has had from Ayub Khan onwards. And a useful illustration of the fact that half of them have been military men.

Hopefully, Gen. Zia-ul-Haq will remain the record-holder for longest-standing patron – even though Gen. Musharraf seems to be trying his utmost to surpass him.