Cousin Ike
thought you'd enjoy this from my local paper
MUCH smaller impact on the local scene last week as opposed to the earlier visit in Sept 2006 when area law enforcement agencies were highly visible all over town... this time just present on the highway, the hospital area, and the entrance to the subdivision where Dr Hashmi lives.
Mush and his wife both had physical exams this time, whereas in 2006 he came by himself.
NEXT time he visits you could be with him and I'd cook up some fine Texas BBQ and feed everyone lunch .... <grin>
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Entourage brings Musharraf to Paris, Texas
Published January 22, 2009
Some Paris motorists might have thought the entourage on N.W. Loop 286 on Wednesday was the United States President coming to town.
But it was Gen. Pervez Musharraf, former President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and his wife coming for a visit with cardiologist Dr. Arjumand Hashmi at Paris Regional Medical Center’s Heart Hospital on N.E Loop 286.
“They had a cardiac workup by Dr. Hashmi, and have left town,” PRMC associate administrator Jason Proctor said shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday. “Everything went fine; it was just normal stuff.”
Proctor said the hospital “is happy to have them.” The administrator also said he had received clearance from the patients to release information, a requirement of strict federal guidelines, known as HIPPA.
“Mr. Musharraf could go anywhere in the world, but he chooses to come here to see Dr. Hashmi,” Proctor said. “I think that speaks well of the kind of physicians, staff and facilities we have.”
With a helicopter circling overhead, the entourage was first known to be in the area when a Cooper resident telephoned The Paris News about 11:40 a.m. to ask what the convoy might be. Shortly afterwards, the motorcade took S.W. Loop 286 from Texas 24 and circled the city.
About noon, the motorcade, including a Dallas Fire Department emergency medical services vehicle, rolled into the south entrance of the new Heart Hospital, which was surrounded by Paris Police Department vehicles. A couple of hours later, scanner traffic indicated the convoy might be on the move again as streets were closed momentarily. About 4 p.m. a helicopter could be heard leaving town.
The Paris News then received a call from PRMC in answer to an earlier inquiry about the day’s events.
This is the second known visit Musharraf has made to Paris,
The first was in September 2006.
Following his examination then, he traveled to the home of Dr. Hashmi for a private luncheon attended by several physicians, hospital administrators and other guests.
“This was a much shorter trip than last time,” Proctor said.
In a 2007 interview, Dr. Hashmi said about the visit:
“I could have seen him that day and he could have gone back and there would not be a problem,” Hashmi said. “But it is all the associated agencies that want all the security.”
Paris Police Chief Bob Hundley said he could not comment on Paris involvement in security other than “we were involved with state and federal agencies.”
“We were told to direct inquiries to the State Department,” Hundley said.
Shorly before 10 a.m. today, U.S. Department of State spokesperson Andy Laine said he would need to make an inquiry to the Diplomatic Security Bureau before commenting on a particular assignment, but that it was a usual custom to provide security for foreign dignitaries.
Hashmi said in 2007 that he began treating Musharraf as well as other international and national notables during his 15-year tenure in Tampa, Fla. where he was director of interventional cardiology at University Community Hospital and Pepin Heart and Vascular Institute. Tampa is the location of the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), responsible for U.S. security interest in nations that stretch from the Horn of Africa through the Arabian Gulf to Central Asia.
Because of the proximity to USCENTCOM, Hashmi said he had the opportunity to treat many high ranking officials, both from the United States and other countries. From Tampa, Hashmi came to Paris where he is now director of the Heart Hospital.
Musharraf resigned his position as Pakistani president in August 2008. |
