"Did you know there is complete sectarian harmony in the country?" "I know our Disinformation Minister said that but you know that the common policy that all our administrations have supported is one of denial. Deny that there is sectarian disharmony and no one will ask difficult questions."
"I think it is quite a pathetic policy."
"Indeed."
"But what if they can't deny a fact?"
"Like what?"
"Like the recent spate of killings, well massacres rather, all over the country."
"We can do what the Indians do - blame it on them."
"And what about the death of those two poor Pakistani drivers in Iraq - our administration did absolutely nothing, even less than the Brits did when Ken Bigley was abducted and the Brits as you know are in Iraq fighting alongside their American masters..."
"That was rather unfortunate. I think as a country we did the least for the two kidnapped drivers. Turkey, Philippines, and other poor countries relying on financial support from the US withstood US pressure not to deal with the terrorists and thereby saved the lives of their nationals."
"That was the government of Chaudhry Shujaat..."
"I think you need to be corrected. That was the government of Musharraf, and need I add it remains his government. The Prime Ministers we have had are of limited relevance if you know what I mean. What has propped all three is Musharraf in our new and improved democracy."
"But to be fair the Disinformation Minister did have a point. He said that Sialkot and Multan would have been reduced to a cinder by now if there was any involvement of sectarian elements in the recent incidents."
"But they did call out the army to stem the protests, right? I mean maybe these two cities would have been reduced to a cinder if the local law and order agencies were given the task, impossible task, of maintaining law and order."
"So you reckon things are tough?"
"Governments have been toppled for a lot less."
"Ooops. Here goes another prime minister then."
"Not yet, but give him time."
"Who? The Chosen One or Musharraf?"
"That would be telling."
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