Watching Urdu serials is Mufti’s pastime these days

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 25

As all eyes are on Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's next move, who is tipped to be the next Chief Minister if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakes claim to form government, his favorite pastime these days is watching TV, particularly the “Zindagi” channel, which airs Urdu serials made in Pakistan.

Ever since the election results were announced, which threw up a hung Assembly, Mufti has remained mum and avoided direct contact with the media. So, how Mufti conducts himself while playing backroom politics and how he spends his time.

“Mufti plays very cool. He won’t get tempted with the TV news flashes, particularly the ones concerning the political developments about Kashmir,” said a confidant of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

In fact, sources said, it took more than 24 hours for PDP men to get permission from him to issue a statement to the offer of caretaker Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is the working president of the National Conference, wherein he had indicated his support to the PDP in forming the government.

They added that in 2008, when the Assembly elections were announced, Mufti also advised his lieutenants not to travel to New Delhi and did not stake claim to form government and instead played cool.

“He watches TV a lot. In fact, these days his favourite channel is ‘Zindagi’, which telecast Pakistan-made Urdu serials,” he added.

Being the alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Mufti has penchant for Urdu and Arabic and is also a known cricket buff.