"The Maulana Muscle Association (MMA) is having problems I believe."
"Some, but hey, they are after all doing business in Pakistan and what is happening to them is part of their coming of age."
"By coming of age you are referring to their Pakistanisation in terms of going the way of the other political parties."
"Precisely. I mean so what if one of them voted for Musharraf as President instead of abstaining...I mean even in the MMA some are more ambitious than others."
"You think Musharraf will make a point of granting him favours?"
"Musharraf is by now savvy enough as a politician to do what is in his best interests."
"You think the deal about his uniform would be valid if the MMA disintegrates."
"I don't think the MMA will disintegrate so soon."
"I think some signs are there. I mean JUP is out in NWFP and has asked the party to part ways in the centre too... and then we have the one who voted for the President in spite of being told not to...I mean a month after the deal was struck - or less than a month after the deal was struck the splinters start...I would imagine this does not auger well for Maulana unity."
"As was said before the Maulanas are, after all, Pakistanis first and that explains it all."
"Well anyway it doesn't matter at this time - I mean the cards are all in the President's hands any way...he will wait and watch. I think that is the trump card of these military men! I mean they have no party and they just wait for other parties to break and by the laws of politics prevailing in Pakistan all parties start to self destruct when out of power..."
"What about the PML (Lotas)? They are in power."
"They are unique even in the history of our country's politics.