Why do Pakistani politicians trot off to Dubai?

Why do Pakistan's top politicians hold meetings in Dubai or London whenever there is a political crisis in the country?

Celebrity interviewer Daphne Barak has posted some answers on her website.

"It is safer to do many press conferences there. Television stations cannot be shot down," a senior media member told Barak in response to her question "why in Dubai?"

Barak has posted samples of "many emails and text messages" sent to her by top politicians on her website daphnebarak.homestead.com in response to her question "why London and Dubai". However, she has kept "the senders' identity discreet" and decided to share only the "few very funny ones."

"Why are the leaders of one of the most troublesome countries around the world always outside their country? How come they have been negotiating anywhere but in Pakistan, during the last few weeks?" wrote Barak,

She claimed a fortnight ago that slain former premier Benazir Bhutto’s sister Sanam had told her in an interview that "the only people she cared for in Pakistan are dead."

Barak posted the "secret answers" to prove her proximity to Pakistan's top politicians. Another "top politician" told Barak, "Daphne, you just agreed with me that's where (Dubai) they can have women and alcohol...Didn't we just answer that question?"

But it was not just Dubai that politicians were dashing off to last year. London was also a favorite destination.

"Still looking for that missing diploma. What was the name of that school again?" another politician told Barak in an obvious reference to the confusion over president Asif Ali Zardari's degree from London.

Apart from politicians, Barak spoke to journalists. "They miss exile...," a senior media member told Barak when asked "why in London?"

"Beats me... We are all wondering who is paying their expenses..." a media owner told her. Barak also quoted a senior lawyer as saying: "Because how can you travel to London without flying your personal dresser?"

A fortnight ago Barak's reported interview with an "extremely bitter" Sanam Bhutto had generated a lot of heat in Pakistan. Sanam denied speaking to Barak and issued a statement saying she had not given any interview to her and "each insinuation is a complete fabrication."

However, Barak stuck to her claims and posted photos showing her with Benazir and Zardari to show her proximity to the Bhutto family. She also posted excerpts of her email and text messages with Benazir and her son Bilawal, and letters from Zardari to the UN that her office corrected and sent back to him.