"What office are you vying for?"
"Sorry?"
"Condemnation of acts of violence, murder and mayhem, have become kind of routine in Pakistan. The President's office condemns these attacks, the Prime Minister's office condemns these attacks, members of the provincial and federal parliament, collectively and individually condemn these attacks but no one actually visits the bereaved, a common occurrence in other countries."
"I guess, given the large numbers murdered each day in this country life has become cheap. Besides the numbers also make it impossible for our leaders to go to each victim's house and commiserate with the family."
"Condemnation is also not in words but written on most occasions, and I have it on good authority that there is a pro forma condemnation..."
"How many ways can you condemn murder! Besides if our parliamentarians begin to visit the houses of the bereaved then you are going to complain of traffic jams."
"So you reckon, it's damned if they do and damned if they don't."
"Yes I do, but you know abandoning the polio drive is not the right way."
"What do you suggest? Offer more money to those who continue the drive?"
"That is already in the works but life maybe cheap for our politicians but not for the families of those who are murdered."
"True my friend, but I would suggest that the campaign be taken up by the children of our leaders, they are all making tentative forays into politics and I think their presence would ensure that the polio drive is not abandoned. And I would hope that Malala also becomes part of the drive and..."
"But then security would have to be beefed up."
"Yes and it should. And I would urge the government not to keep the symbol of girls' education outside the country. By offering Malala's father a job in the UK implies that the Taliban have won."
"Well, Rehman Malik can't take the responsibility for her safety."
"Why not?"
"He is focused on convincing the President that his faux pas was unintentional but so far he has not succeeded."
"Yes, I did hear the President is still angry with him but then the President knows he frequently indulges in bongis."
"Bongis?"
"There is no English equivalent, the closest would be involuntary idiocy."
"Reminds me of the biblical phrase, forgive them Father for they know not what they do!"
"For Malik I would say: forgive them father for he knows not what to say or do and when."