"So the dirty work is done by a politician."
"Indeed. That has always been the case in our country. Not only do they do all the dirty work for the power that be but they also do dirty work for themselves and their loved ones if you know what I mean."
"No, actually I don't know what you mean."
"The dirty work as in being corrupt, as in indulging in nepotism, as in borrowing money and not paying back to the banking system, as in..."
"OK already. I get it. But the dirty work I was referring to was the one that the Chaudhry is doing now while the cat is away and the tiger is satiated for now."
"Man, such imagery. Don't know what you mean."
"Well, the cat is the Chosen One, malleable and kind, and the tiger is our strong man who has threatened the Balochis, and according to some reports has already sent in the armed forces who have collected arms and ammunition from several houses in Quetta. And oh yes, they were not able to stop the blast at a key railway line in Balochistan or in the ministers' block of the civil secretariat."
"Sad that. So there is escalation."
"Indeed. And Bugti says he is not going to talk to the government after Musharraf's threats."
"So enter Chaudhry, the kind man with no ambitions."
"No ambitions to challenge Musharraf's Chosen One at least."
"That is not indicative of Musharraf's power but of Chaudhry's character. If I remember correctly he was very annoyed with Nawaz Sharif for not giving the Chief Ministership of Punjab to his cousin but that didn't mean he didn't wag his tail for as long as there was no alternative."
"Its such characteristics that led Musharraf not to doff his uniform."
"Yep. And lack of faith in anyone. Even the next uniform man in charge."
"Yep. Welcome to the world of politics."
"But the lady doctor who was allegedly raped has given a statement to a one man tribunal in Karachi. So if that was a trigger to the unrest then a resolution maybe in sight."
"That may have been true when it all started but I would imagine the government has escalated feelings against itself through threats and actions."
"Ah yes. But there is a solution to all that."
"What?"
"A referendum and I can bet my entire income that Musharraf will win by 99% of the votes."
"True democracy a la Pakistani general style."
"Indeed, and Bush is happy with our version of democracy."
"And that is all that matters."