"So what do you reckon?"
"I reckon it's a wrong move for two reasons. First and foremost, public speaking is not the President's strength."
"But, he needs to address the parliament where the numbers supporting him is greater than those opposing him. He can't address a jalsa where security is an issue and he can't invite the jalsa to his home at the Presidency because that too may be a security risk so there was no option but to go to parliament."
"Did you note the absence of around half of Punjab PPP parliamentarians when the Prime Minister called a meeting in Lahore? An absence attributed to the fact that the party leadership had ignored them for over three years that the party has been in power?"
"OK, but don't forget all is not lost - the PPP is in power today and can make concessions and benefit its rank and file - isn't that what the PM promised the Punjab PPP parliamentarians?"
"Yes, but where will he get the money from to give to them? The kitty is empty."
"From borrowing more from the banks."
"That would be disastrous for the economy."
"Hey, you are facing economic disaster in any case a couple of millions to appease PPP Punjab parliamentarians is hardly likely to make it worse by more than a measly percentage point."
"What is the second point you wanted to make?"
"The President needs to change his speech writer."
"Why?"
"Aggression is the mindset of the weak and not the strong, so stated the junior Mr Babar."
"Junior?"
"The senior Babar in terms of being heeded is Babar Awan and the junior Babar who is simply not heeded is Farhatullah Babar."
"I like the junior Babar."
"We all do except the one who matters, anyway if aggression is the mindset of the weak then is the US weak for having assumed an aggressive stance with respect to Iraq and Afghanistan?"
"Yes, but..."
"History is replete with examples of aggression of a superior power over a smaller state."
"The reference may have been to a bully, you know a bully is essentially a coward and..."
"So, who is the bully Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan or the party in power in the centre?"
"As I keep on saying the PPP alone can unseat the President and he needs to focus not on his power games in the parliament but on his own supporters and the PM's experience with the Punjab PPP parliamentarians as well as the Mirza camp in Sindh proves there is an issue."
"Indeed."
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