"So now the Jiyalas are a moderate force and the fundamentalists are the Maulanas, the erstwhile partners of the Musharraf regime."
"Yes, but that's politics. Definitions change depending on where you are looking from."
"And what the Jiyalas must know by now, these definitions can undergo yet another change."
"But, of course, and they also know one must strike when the iron is hot if you know the expression."
"Everyone in Pakistan knows that expression. It is precisely our familiarity with this expression that has allowed us to understand our politics and our politicians."
"Ah yes, indeed. You strike a bargain when the President has antagonised his erstwhile partners, the Maulanas, by refusing to take off his uniform."
"Right but if you go back the fact that the Maulanas didn't make a great bargain in the first place doesn't make sense."
"Well, they struck when the iron was hot, they co-operated with the Lotas at the time when the Lotas needed them but then they are not yet skilled politicians. In this country a professional politician would never have made a deal like the Maulanas did and expect it to be honoured."
"Yes, I see. I mean the deal that BB is making is specific. My husband out of jail, me PM, your Chosen One out, and Musharraf is saying you support my wearing two hats for ever more and the rest is negotiable, but of course he will make the Jiyalas sweat before giving in on any point if you know what I mean."
"And Nawaz Sharif is saying get me out of my gilded cage in Saudi Arabia and I don't say anything against you in my telephone conversations with the Press."
"Yes that might work, but Musharraf is probably still saying to him you out and your brother in and that's a stalemate."
"Yes."
"And what about the Lotas?"
"They will be in only as long as Musharraf deems it appropriate. But don't forget today's Lotas maybe also be tomorrow's Lotas with a different party leadership."
"That is true. I mean the Sharifs are not going to accept the Chaudhrys in any position of power."
"And then again the Chaudhrys may convince the Sharifs that they were never Musharraf's Lotas in any case, just biding their time."
"That could be true as well."
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