"So many, many, old faces have returned to the assemblies."
"It is to be expected. The old faces have returned after the elections."
"That's not what I meant. I was referring to the old as in the Shaukat Aziz era."
"Shaukat Aziz era! Surely that was part of the Musharraf era."
"If you want to get technical then yes, I suppose it can be categorised as part of the Musharraf era."
"I do want to get technical. I meant isn't that why we can describe Pakistan as a democracy now?"
"Correct. Anyway what I was referring to are the same faces as in the Musharraf era."
"OK, no one knows why Qayyum is still there - I mean it's not as if he is known for his non-partisan views if you know what I mean."
"I was actually referring to a Shaukatia."
"Shaukatia? That's a rare bird indeed. I for one know of many Musharrafites but no Shaukatia."
"Hina Rabbani Khar was known as a Shaukatia in Islamabad."
"I don't indulge in any gossip."
"But Shaukat Aziz was the one who, reportedly, gave her the job and not Musharraf."
"Is that right? But let me say that she is articulate and quite good. To use the services of someone competent even if they are politically on the opposite side..."
"That's just it. She switched sides well in advance of the elections and is denigrating the Shaukatias now."
"So no ownership of her own history..."
"None at all."
"And then they say our politicians, like outgoing US administrations, are focused on their legacy."
"Our politicians don't believe in legacies, the leaders do but the politicians don't, they focus on the present - always the present."