The Babus of Islamabad are just too clever for even the sleuths of media. They have finally had their way and media is silent as they enjoy two holidays on weekend that they wanted for years. Forever in need for a bunk from office work, they wanted (still) more time to relax. But there were the mean, old businesses and industries that always prevailed upon the provincial governments, especially the one in Punjab, to frustrate their wish. This year, the Babus have, finally, succeeded in having the two days off every week on pretext of saving electricity. But this is rather too transparently self-serving to sustain scrutiny. If offices and institutions are closed for one more day on Saturday, how does that save electricity during rest of the week, for as far as I know, the electricity is not something one can store? And if one can, why dont the schools and colleges save electricity when closed for summer vacation? Two holidays are a cause of great discomfort for the employees in some places where they are forced to work longer hours every day. Most low-wage employees have been doing a second job in evening to make both ends meet. Now they have less time and energy (of the electricity variety) for that. The Babus of Islamabad, though, are having the longest weekend in the world because it is actually stretched to 2.5 days. The break for Friday prayer leaves little time before offices close especially as the prayer timings vary for different parts of the country. Most employees leave for home when the Friday prayer is about to start. -MUHAMMAD ABD AL-HAMEED, Lahore, August 3.