"So what's the political narrative these days? Same-o, same-o?"
"There has been a shift in the government's narrative..."
"That indicates a new Pakistan, in the past, governments refused to change their narrative and to admit that a policy needs change because it wasn't working..."
"Oh shush, please. The government has not changed its narrative vis-a-vis its own policies, it insists they are all wonderful, an outcome of not only the best minds in the country but also the most honest minds in government - a first in our history..."
"So then what were you referring to?"
"It's narrative with respect to appointing Shahbaz Sharif as head of the Public Accounts Committee!"
"Shahbaz Sharif has cancer, doesn't Imran Khan know about cancer from his mother's suffering, now the elder Sharif has heart problems and The Khan may not be sympathetic as he doesn't know about matters of the heart..."
"The Khan has been married three times and reportedly had liaisons with many others..."
"Oh shush, when I referred to the heart I meant Nawaz Sharif's medical problems."
"Sorry, anyway the government's narrative is that the party in general and The Khan in particular will not give an NRO, National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) to any member of the opposition - NRO if you recall was given by Musharraf to Benazir Bhutto at a time when he wore two hats, and it gave a clean chit in terms of criminal and civil cases during the time the PPP was in power and......"
"Don't forget the court struck down the NRO."
"OK, but the concept remains in our politics, see with us Pakistanis once a concept sees the light of day it becomes a perennial talking point."
"Light of day, I would talk of the dead of night."
"Don't forget Musharraf actually signed the ordinance and it was published, anyway an NRO was signed by a military dictator wearing two hats; and when Musharraf was forced to take off one hat his capacity to give an NRO evaporated. Now my question is can a civilian head of government, the prime minister who wears only one hat, give an NRO?"
"The prime minister has the power to initiate investigation against any individual and direct the Attorney General to proactively proceed with a case and..."
"OK, but with poor capacity in the office of the attorney general and with corruption having seeped all through the state institutions...."
"Hush, Ishrat Husain says the problem lies entirely with these investigative agencies summoning them and bullying the poor bureaucrats..."
"Who get cheap plots and cars and household help, courtesy the government, and get a raise each year above the national inflation rate even when the treasury is empty, and who treat the public that pays their salaries and perks with contempt and..."
"But Ishrat Husain is an honourable man..."
"Are you quoting the speech delivered by Mark Antony in Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar?"
"If I recall correctly, the speech goes on to say they are all, all honourable men."
"Don't be facetious."