"Chaudhry Pervez Elahi has said he doesn't want to be the Prime Minister."
"So?"
"So I guess the rumours were all wrong."
"And you, my friend, are too naïve."
"But the man himself said..."
"The man also said that he didn't want to be Chief Minister to Nawaz Sharif and guess what?"
"OK, but PM is a bit too ambitious if you know what I mean."
"Without the Chaudhry's support I don't think the Chosen One can win in a general election. I mean it's OK in a bye election but..."
"If he remains the Chosen One winning is not an issue. I hope you do realise that."
"I guess but with the world's eyes on our democracy and..."
"And as long as Osama is lurking around the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, or as long as the Americans believe he is lurking somewhere there, the US will continue to look at democracy a la desi style as acceptable."
"Indeed you are right. But you know Nawaz Sharif made enemies of the Chaudhry's because he gave the Chief Ministership to his own brother. Do you think they will turn against those who resist making Pervez Elahi the Prime Minister?"
"They don't strike when the iron is hot if you know what I mean. They will strike when the chips are down and..."
"And that's not nice."
"Whatever do you mean? That is politics in this country. Whenever the chips are down that is when you strike."
"So you don't think the Chosen One is there for long?"
"Maybe he will be allowed to retain the portfolio of Finance. As it is he never abandoned that."
"Yes, it's always sensible to play off one against the other."
"But somehow I like the idea of Chaudhry Pervez Elahi as the Prime Minister."
"Why?"
"It would show the heights that a lota can rise to. We have seen international bureaucrats rising to the top, we have seen compromise candidates reach the top like Jamali, we have seen party leaders reach the top and we have seen..."
"Yes but is that really the top these days?"
"If you want to get technical..."