"National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) is dead as the PPP has decided it will not be presented in parliament."
"It forced President Zardari to once again back track on a major issue, thereby making his minions that were let loose on TV channels to defend the NRO seem extremely foolish but I don't think the NRO is dead just because it is not to be presented in parliament."
"You don't think the coalition members of the PPP-led government would demand some major concessions with respect to power sharing in return for the NROs revival at some future date?"
"Given past precedence of some of the coalition parties that withdrew their support that is a distinct possibility. However, that is not why I said it is not dead." "You reckon some cases against the President and several members of the cabinet would resurface now and the courts would decide the matter?"
"They do say the President has immunity..."
"Even for alleged crimes prior to his ascendance to the office he now holds?"
"I am not sure about that but I don't think these NRO beneficiaries should panic. They still hold all the cards."
"Whatever do you mean?"
"Who was presenting the case against all these NRO beneficiaries prior to the issuance of the ordinance?"
"The state, of course. Come to think of it there are those who argue that PM Gilani may have gotten himself acquitted from the Islamabad High Court at the time Dogar, reportedly considered close to PPP high command, was the Chief Justice and this was facilitated mainly because the government or the state, under the control of the PPP, presented a very weak case."
"So you reckon the President should not invoke his immunity and instead have the state present a very weak case against him?"
"That would be the wisest course but somehow I don't think the President is going to go that route."
"There is a moral in this story."
"That corruption..."
"No, no my friend it's not as if those who did not benefit from the NRO are not corrupt! The lesson learned for the President is that he must prefer his Prime Minister's advice over the likes of Rehman Malik, Fauzia Wahab, Naveed Qamar in future."
"I agree, but not likely I would imagine."