ARTICLE: "From the frying pan into the fire!"
"Well that's an English expression and doesn't hold true for us of the Subcontinent because we don't believe in a steady rise of anything, we jump in and face the consequences later...."
"Or not face them later and viola! We have NROs - which spells out National Reconciliation Ordinance, and ordinance implies one man diktat as parliament's approval is obtained post facto - and The Khan says NRO means a carte blanche for all past corruption/nepotism...."
"Ironical isn't it for a man who is the Leader of the House to refer to an ordinance?"
"Speaking of NROs do you know why was the Man with the Ever Widening Girth (EWG) promoted as adviser on interior and I am referring to Shahzad Akbar! I mean it's not as if anyone in the opposition has paid any money to the treasury and..."
"Could be for three reasons, one to demote Container Shah...."
"Why couldn't The Khan simply get rid of him?"
"Because he has connections, powerful connections, and the second reason is that The Man with the Widening Girth talks as fast as The Khan used to bowl and you know that The Khan understands and appreciates anyone who can make him think cricket."
"Don't be facetious and the third reason?"
"The last most valid reason is that EWG has pledged to The Khan that he will jog every morning and cut down on his food intake and become as slim as....as....as The Khan..."
"If wishes were horses...."
"Wishes don't need to be horses in the New Pakistan. All that is required is for wishes to be articulated and viola The Khan will be impressed!"
"Right but you mentioned from the frying pan into the fire and with reference to Container Shah he has gone from the fire into the frying pan if you know what I mean."
"Now who is being facetious!? Anyway when I referred to the frying pan and fire I was referring to the withdrawal of Hafeez Sheikh from the National Finance Commission (NFC) in the aftermath of his appointment being challenged in court...."
"Hmmm Hafeez Sheikh does not like insubordination, three Chairs of FBR during his little over one year tenure, removal of Finance Secretary for daring to challenge the unrealistic targets agreed with the IMF, then the ping pong game he played with Hammad Azhar who was removed form one Ministry of Finance position to another to another..."
"OK so he was the frying pan but where does the fire come in?"
"The Khan holds the portfolio of Finance and between the two men who do you reckon is more given to....to....conflict with the opposition?"
"Ha ha indeed!"
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020