Part 4 Chapter 11 Summary

Thirty seconds before jeeps surround the Harappa home to arrest Isky, he and Arjumand are talking about tempting fate. Suffering a bad toothache, he smokes what he declares the "last but one cigar" of his life. General Hyder's adjutant announces the coup. Isky continues joking about an albino panther said to be wandering the Bagheeragali hills. Shuja informs him Hyder signed the order. General Salmàn Tughlak, the last holdover from Shaggy Dog's high command, learns about the overthrow from Hyder. He is called upon to use his experience with martial law to stop the riots that broke out when the opposition disagreed with the ballot counting. Colleagues had given Hyder the choice of deposing Isky or falling with him.

In the morning, Raza Hyder appears on national television, reciting Quranic verses and devoutly announcing "Operation Umpire": the army intends only...