"Murad Ali Shah is a puppet of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari."

"And Buzdar isn't?"

"He isn't, not Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's..."

"You being facetious!"

"Well, yes because in the Land of the Pure I am not sure if there is anyone in parliament, federal and provincial, who is not a puppet?!"

"True, we have individual-based parties, and if you take away the individual the party disintegrates because it would be unable to get the votes and the seats to form the government..."

"The Khan has nothing but contempt for those parties where the heir is a family member..."

"Only with respect to Pakistan not other countries."

"National interest..."

"Indeed, and need I add, our tradition has been that the guy with real power (defined as the individual who holds real as opposed to reflected power) defines national interest which determines policy..."

"That goes with the territory."

"Right, but anyway even our institutions are personality based - with a change of the guard (read retirement) things change in institutions. Saqib Nisar retired and Khosa sahib's management was different and now Chief Justice Gulzar sahib..."

"That's a good point, anyway did you notice Justice Gulzar's oath-taking was attended by the crème de la crème of the twin cities, in neighbouring India, I don't think even the Prime Minister attends..."

"We do things differently here!"

"Don't get uppity with me, anyway I just wanted to let you know that Firdous Ashiq Awan was the one who said Murad Ali Shah is a puppet of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari."

"Has the mantle been formally passed on to Bilawal from his dad?"

"Not to my knowledge."

"Doesn't Madam Awan know who is the real decision-maker in the party she so recently left!?"

"I am sure she does, but Zardari sahib is quite quiet these days, and Bilawal has this uncanny ability to say things that make The Khan really angry."

"I keep advising The Khan that he must clean the stable so that flies and...and dengue mosquitoes are wiped out and he opens some kennels for the strays - you know the equivalent to langar khanas for dogs who are proliferating in the capital and..."

"Don't be facetious."