Partly Facetious: Progress is impossible without change!

31 Jan, 2020

"The right to change one's mind is enshrined in many a quote from wise men."

"Is change the same as U-turn?"

"I am not going to dignify that with a response because it's so obviously a political statement. My favourite English dramatist George Bernard Shaw said progress is impossible without change and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything."

"An example of a U-turn is when you agree with the Sindh government, whatever its motive maybe, on a new IG but upon arrival in Islamabad you change your mind..."

"You remember Zardari sahib's presidency? I mean even if there was a major event requiring his attendance as the President he would leave if his pir, spiritual guide, said he must go towards water which meant Karachi and..."

"Why couldn't he open the tap in the bathroom?"

"Be respectful, anyway my point is nearly all recent civilian chief executives have been guided by pirs and any decision The Khan may take without prior consultation with his..."

"Stop it right now before I take you to court for defamation!"

"I apologize and no disrespect was intended. Anyway let me quote John Maynard Keynes who said when the facts change I change my mind. And The Khan changes his mind when the facts change."

"What about the facts on the state of the economy? How come he is not changing his mind given over 20 percent food inflation and rising unemployment and..."

"That is because his economic team leaders are not presenting facts to him."

"Maybe, but perhaps he cannot conceptualize the extent of the erosion of each rupee earned that is pushing many low income families into poverty."

"Well, then the solution is simple: he must be informed as to what the facts are."

"See that's where it gets complicated - his economic team has effectively convinced him of the rightness of its narrative: high interest rate, an undervalued rupee, setting a revenue target that is simply unrealistic and to meet the resulting shortfall with privatization proceeds, a proposal that in the past led to protests as well as litigation..."

"The mafia needs to be dealt with, I mean the cartels continue to operate and our competition commission, headed by someone on a stay order, needs to be more proactive and..."

"How do you define mafia?"

"All those who are spreading lies about what's truly happening in the country!"

"Define lies?"

"Any negative news is a lie, so that means the opposition and the..."

"The opposition aint talking, it's the coalition partners and PTI members and..."

"They must shut up or put up."

"I heard Atif Khan did put up and so maybe another change of mind is in the works..."

"Oh remember what Blake, my favourite English poet wrote: the man who never alters his opinions is like standing water and breeds reptiles of the mind."

"But did he say how quickly and how many times..."

"The suitcase in your car needs to be investigated by the Anti-Narcotics Force and..."

"I humbly apologize."

"That's more like it."

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