Islamabad: The Indian minister for health may frown at Bollywood actors puffing away on the big screen, but in Pakistan, lighters with pictures of all political bigwigs, including the country's founding father Mohammed Ali Jinnah, are doing roaring business.

It's not rare to see Pakistanis igniting their cigarettes with fancy lighters with pictures of Jinnah, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari or even his late wife, former premier Benazir Bhutto.

The made-in-China lighters that have flooded local markets have a small torch at one end which when turned on, beams pictures of political figures and even party symbols such as the PML-N's "lion" and PPP's "arrow".

However, it's not just Pakistan's political leaders whose images adorn these lighters. Lighters with Al Qaida chief Osama bin Laden's picture are equally popular in this part of the world. President Pervez Musharraf in his army uniform is also picked up by many chain smokers.

Bhutto is the only woman leader whose pictures are being flaunted on the lighters. Bhutto fans can choose between three models with her pictures, all priced at Rs 50 each, and these lighters continue to be the most popular.

Lighters with pictures of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif are popular in Punjab province while lighters with MQM chief Altaf Hussain's image are popular in Sindh province.

However, the Jinnah lighters are not particularly a hit with smokers.

A paan shop in the federal capital's Jinnah Supermarket keeps a good stock of these glitzy lighters.

"These lighters are in great demand these days. So we keep a good stock," a shop help said. Asked which leader sells the most he replied, "Benazir Bhutto".

However, some shops prefer not to stack these lighters because they could prove to "controversial".

Sadiq, a cigarette shop owner, said, "We sell lighters with pictures of women, but not of political leaders".

Source : PTI