"So there is hectic campaigning for Shaukat Aziz."
"The funds being used are, ostensibly, state funds."
"Well I can't imagine people wanting to use their own money to support Shaukat Aziz. I mean doing what they are bidden to do by the powers that be is one thing, our politicians are used to obeying without question, however using their hard earned money to do the bidding of the powers that be is not part of the deal."
"Hard earned?"
"It is hard earned! I mean have you noticed the humiliation they are made to suffer as a consequence. Look at your recent political history! The humiliation of Jamali, the contempt evident for all the Lotas, the way Shaukat Aziz was designated the next Prime Minister! Come on the price is not that cheap!"
"Yeah, I guess and what is this deal you mentioned?"
"That they will get what they want in return for support - some want a house with a car that has a flag in front, others want a foreign trip, still others want that no cases be filed against them with the Accountability Bureau. Depends really on your expectations and what you have done in the past."
"Ah, I see. So you don't think there is anything wrong with using state funds for supporting the candidacy of Shaukat Aziz?"
"Well, look at it this way. The people of Tharparkar or which ever other non-city constituency he has been told to file his papers from don't know him, who knows a Finance Minister in Pakistan except a few elite any way - and these non-city constituencies also vote tribally if you know what I mean - besides people in Tharparkar may not even be able to identify with Shaukat Aziz - hell, the guy wears suits, and while they may have seen the army wearing trousers and all, they cannot possibly identify with a dresser like Aziz...had he stood from a city seat then you could imagine some votes for him."
"So what are you saying? That without the support of the PML (Lotas)..."
"Precisely. And PML (Lotas) will never use their own funds to do what Musharraf wants them to do - if Musharraf persists then these guys will dump him faster than you can blink an eye."
"But why does our tax money have to go for this canvassing - the money is ours you know not Chaudhry's or Musharraf's."
"I agree. But then there is a discretionary fund of Chaudhry as the Prime Minister. And he is using his discretion to get his successor elected."
"A discretionary fund earmarked by the Finance Minister in his budget."
"Yes, and say hail to the new and improved democracy."