Partly Facetious: A politician has bigger liabilities

03 May, 2011

"What's the difference between a politician and any other professional?"
"A politician has bigger liabilities."
"That's specific to Pakistani politicians isn't it?"
"And within Pakistani politicians our Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa politicians' liabilities are very high."
"Talk of yet another inter-circular debt."
"Don't be facetious."
"Well, I can cite facts and figures and that poor couple Arbab Jehangir and his wife Asma Jehangir - they need our help. I would urge Dr Hafeez Sheikh to up the price of oil and products through raising Petroleum Levy by one paisa so that this poor couple can actually go and buy some clothes and..."
"Air-conditioners - they need air conditioners in this heat."
"I stand corrected - one has to provide what each is used to: to the poor you can provide electricity for 12 hours a day, its not as if many can afford fans anyway, but this couple needs air conditioners and given that they live in VVIP areas they are not subjected to load shedding..."
"You are being facetious today. But seriously you haven't really answered my question. What is the difference between a politician operating anywhere in the world and any other profession?"
"If you are referring to deals with reference to President Zardari then let's be honest deals are struck routinely in business, in all spheres of activity, why deals are struck even with intelligence agencies and the armed forces of countries and..."
"You are getting hotter!"
"What do you mean?"
"The difference between a politician (in whatever country) and any other profession is that he/she will take credit for the work of others."
"Are you referring to President Obama's statement that US special forces killed Osama just outside Islamabad and took custody of his body."
"Where were our forces?"
"Maybe another deal was struck and...."
"And where was Zardari sahib in all this?"
"He was kinda busy making deals with the Qatil League and you know and I know that Rehman Malik has certainly not killed Osama."
"Where does Malik come in? That's not within his jurisdiction."
"I thought Islamabad was his jurisdiction."
"Anyway I bet you the President will now get an invite to the US?"
"Indeed."

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