ARTICLE: "Did you hear the rumour that Asad Umer is a candidate in the event, OK unlikely, but nonetheless in the event that minus one becomes effective in Pakistan Tehrik-I-Insaaf?"

"Minus one failed even after the party leadership passed from a Bhutto to a Zardari, yes I know he was the designated heir by Benazir Bhutto and that too in writing, but one would have expected some challenge and there was none; and then there is minus Nawaz Sharif that appears to have failed in spite of a conviction and in spite of his being barred from holding office...."

"Right but I did say however unlikely...and there is a strong rumour..."

"Whatever makes you lend credence to the rumour!? Asad Umer seems to be a nice chap who quietly left the Finance Ministry and didn't accept any alternate ministry...."

"Till he was offered the position of a de facto deputy prime minister - China Pakistan Economic Corridor was placed under him, the only economic activity that appears to be ongoing, he was made the chair of the energy committee which is dealing with insurmountable challenges and I say insurmountable because none of the challenges seem to have been tackled....wait....and head of the National Command and Control Centre and need I add Covid-19 is the only factor that is impacting on....why are you laughing?"

"Two things my friend first he was not made head of the tax committee which comes under the Advisor on Finance......."

"That's because our two foreign returned economic leaders who are in the country for the interim period....interim defined as their retaining their current lucrative positions with protocol, anyway they have effectively brain washed our Prime Minister into focusing on current account deficit....I heard someone refer to Imran Khan as CA Khan..."

"Don't be facetious. Besides National Command and Control Centre may have mistakenly led uninformed people like you to conclude that it means command and control of all institutions, sensitive or not so sensitive...."

"Hey as long as CA is not mentioned..."

"Don't be facetious anyway the reason why I lend credence to Umer becoming a candidate for party leadership if minus one becomes effective is because he has got rid of our Dr Fauci....just like Trump and..."

"Our Dr Fauci has contracted Coronavirus."

"And need I add that was an honourable exit but exit it is."

"Don't be facetious let us all pray for his health like he used to pray for the hundreds of thousands Pakistanis contracting the virus."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020