"So it's no longer a simple matter of holding only two offices but many, many more."
"You referring to Musharraf as the Chief of Army Staff as well as the President and I believe the patron in chief of the cricket board or something?"
"Shouldn't it be the other way round, I mean first President and then COAS."
"And if you believe that, maybe, you should join the ranks of the disgruntled."
"Who? Nawaz Sharif, BB, well, maybe, not BB - she is not disgruntled these days with AZ next to her..."
"Some allege that she is more secure when AZ is in jail."
"Time does change us all. And maybe AZ has changed."
"And then again maybe BB has changed."
"Don't push your luck man. Anyway I wasn't referring to BB or Nawaz Sharif as these disgruntled have ambitions for the highest office. I was referring to the mid-level disgruntled who want a flagged car, a public salary, some TV time, some avenue where their legitimate and illegitimate work is done promptly."
"Ah, I get it. Fakhr Zaman and his rather vocal wife, first a Jiyala or were they first a PML (Lota) predating Nawaz Sharif, then they became Musharrafites and now again they are the disgruntled."
"Yes and they maintain they are going to see to it that Musharraf goes."
"If wishes were horses...By the way, are they available? I mean can they be brought back into the loving fold of the Musharrafites?"
"Ah yes, always. There is room for that."
"Anyway Musharraf couldn't care less. Balochistan is being tackled by Chaudhry, and the rest of our domestic and foreign policy revolves around making US happy."
"That leaves disgruntled Musharrafites who can be ignored, and leaves General Saheb time to watch cricket."
"Our cricket team just does not seem to be able to win and therefore needs attention from the only man who holds real office in this country."
"Musharraf said our team needs discipline."
"Perhaps wars are won because of discipline though I am sure that many a military historian would disagree with that, probably maintaining that wars are won because of good strategies of commanders..."
"It has been awhile since we conclusively won any wars as well."
"Which is fine. But cricket matches are also won through talent, more money as an incentive..."
"And Musharraf does understand the power of money. So does his Chosen One which is why salaries of the Lota MNAs have been increased - one wonders on what basis?
"Economically it doesn't make sense because the effect would be more inflation while at a political level also it doesn't make sense because they are with the Musharraf band only in so far as these guys are in control. The moment they sense weakness will be the moment they will dump them."
"Ah, but when you are in power it is rather difficult to see this type of unpalatable reality."