"Ha ha ha."
"What's so funny?"
"It appears that the grand coalition is against Imran and, unlike the past, not against the sitting prime minister..."
"You reckon that reflects Maulana's power of persuasion? I mean his hatred for Imran is visceral and..."
"And it is not visceral for Nawaz or Zardari or Asfandyar Wali Khan?"
"OK, but I reckon Imran's popularity with youth and women maybe angering the other national leaders."
"The Maulana and Asfandyar Wali Khan..."
"Their hatred is based on their loss of votes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Imran's gains in 2013 elections but with respect to national party leaders - Nawaz and Zardari - I reckon maybe his popularity with the youth and women maybe the basis of their hatred, I mean you do remember the time when Nawaz was popular with women...."
"Wasn't Nawaz popular with a few rather than a larger electorate?"
"Don't be facetious. Nawaz is popular even today with women, maybe not urban women but the rural women have voted for him."
"On their way to prepare dung fuel and..."
"Hey, back off, will you."
"So where are the father and son?"
"In Dubai I believe and need I add as long as the Holy Ghost remains in this country you will have Zardi representation in national and provincial parliaments."
"There is something in Dubai that rejuvenates father and son...."
"It's certainly not Ayyan Ali and given Zardari sb's departure for Dubai I hope all speculation on that count is abandoned."
"Speculation is all that we analysts have left - I mean we are in changed times - three national parties instead of two, anti-Imran grand coalition..."
"Panamagate?"
"Nah, that just trumped Surreygate."
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017