"Why would they take Sheikh Sahib of the Disinformation fame and give him the Railways portfolio, I mean the guy had made himself really and truly relevant by providing comic relief to the people of this country through his statements..."
"Maybe the power that be, did not want comic relief from a Minister of Information any more."
"Well the very designation is obsolete. Western countries do not have an entire ministry devoted to this activity. Poodle had his own poodle of sorts, remember the guy who was fired for ostensibly becoming the news rather than merely manipulating it and..."
"Yes you are right but Alistair I believe his name was, any way Alistair had the run of the entire Cabinet and was a powerful man."
"So?"
"So the power he was exercising on behalf of poodle was considerably more than what Sheikh Sahib was allowed to exercise and..."
"Yes but you need to exercise more damage control in the old style democracy. Meanwhile back here at home the terms of reference of a Minister of Information are to nod at appropriate times..."
"I would imagine nod and defend at inappropriate times rather than at appropriate times. Why would the government need support at appropriate times as those times it already has public support if you know what I mean."
"I guess so - the power that be requires unequivocal support from the Minister of Information, to the best of the ministers' ability."
"Don't think that it is specific to one ministry. But I like what you said about the best of the minister's ability."
"Ability has to be in all the ministers' terms of reference. Which is why expectations from the new man Durrani will be different from Sheikh Sahib's."
"Yeah I guess. Now the country will have to wait longer for Sheikh Sahib's comments, I mean we need comic relief - life is too short and our other politicians too serious and..."
"Don't worry. I think the government will find it is not easy to silence the man, if you know what I mean."
"But Railways has only bad news, I mean..."
"Sheikh Sahib will then be in his element."
"I thought he talked of only good news given his portfolio before...I mean it's not as if he was talking about bad things being done by the government."
"Right but he used to bad mouth BB and Mian Sahib."
"Enough about the man! What about the other reshuffle."
"Strengthening the Chaudhrys, I thought. And undermining those with independent links to the power that be."
"Why would the power that be allow it?"
"One, elections are round the corner."
"Referendums and other details shall we say can easily resolve that concern."
"Yes but they really need to be seen as fair as well this time around. What with the US getting restive again and raising concerns about the new and improved democracy here."
"I see. So it was all about politics of power."
"When is it not about that in our country!"