"Just because I am still a Nawala doesn't mean I tried to fool you."
"Well, Nawaz Sharif's narrative does require a revisit, I mean even die hard Nawalas are not fooled by his arguments and..."
"How do you account for the masses coming to hear him along the GT Road, the beneficiaries surrounding him..."
"We have so little in the way of entertainment in this country and this is especially so in small villages and towns - I mean cinema is a rarity and even if there is one theatre how many times can you see the same movie, there are no clubs, there are no gyms or anything, so jalsas with music and dance are the in-thing. And the beneficiaries, I assume you mean the members of the cabinet, will remain as long as Mian sahib calls the shots."
"But what you said about the jalsas also applies to other parties, including Imran Khan."
"Agreed, though Khan's jalsas attract a different kind of crowd, but yes I agree so far the crowds at his jalsas have not translated into more seats but when I said fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me I wasn't referring to the Elder Sharif and, no, before you say anything I wasn't even referring to the summons that have gone to Nawaz Sharif and his two sons from the National Accountability Bureau because really no one fooled anyone on that matter twice!"
"I see your point. So what were you referring to?"
"The former First Brother. I mean really! He was first bestowed the honour of being the next prime minister after an interim prime minister was selected for 45 days, the time required for the First Brother to win a national assembly seat, and the honour was summarily withdrawn through a typical Nawaz Sharif modus operandi: get others to say that First Brother is needed in Punjab. And now we are told that Shahbaz Sharif will be the president of the party but only after the interim president has been appointed."
"Hmmm... but why can't you read the writing on the wall: the Elder Sharif is never ever going to bestow the highest office in the land on his brother....now if it were his wife, or daughter..."
"I see so what next?"
"I know! Shahbaz Sharif will be selected as the permanent President of Pakistan but after an interim..."
"Good one...though Mamnoon Hussain ain't resigning..."
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017