PARTLY FACETIOUS: ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me’

“The sisters and loyalists of The Man Who Must Remain Nameless and Faceless were water cannoned at was it 2 in the morning…”

“Yes I heard, but the decision to isolate him to ensure that attacks against the stakeholders…”

“What about the age-old proverb – sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm.”

“That proverb is not, how shall I put it, indigenous to our part of the world. Words do hurt a lot, and…”

“Right, the use of extremely partisan Indian media…”

“We watch their movies but seriously do you for a minute think that the public is sold on India’s narrative!”

“No I don’t.”

“So, can we revert to the proverb…”

“No, but I reckon tit-for-tat policies continue.”

“There are differences though, aren’t they! I mean, Maryam Nawaz had not, I repeat not, held any public office at the time she was put behind bars, like The Third Wife…”

“The commonality is that the two women did address their party loyalist, if you recall…”

“Ok so political aspirations were there but the PML-N has withdrawn its offer of talks now but before their leadership kept offering talks – an offer that reflected a political rapprochement which was always spurned by The Man Who Must Remain Nameless and Faceless…”

“I grant you that the party leaders have said words to each other as well as stakeholders that are at best extremely hurtful and at worst downright…downright…”

“Anti-Pakistan?”

“OK, I grant you that, but my contention is that the world has changed dramatically since The Man Who Must Remain Nameless and Faceless, was incarcerated more than two years ago and whether those allowed to visit him by the court…”

“Are not being allowed to…”

“OK is anyone – the lawyers or family members – briefing him on what is happening in the world outside with the Western media toeing the line of the deep state in their country – look at the coverage of Ukraine-Russia war and the coverage of Israel and the coverage…”

“Hmmm and then there is banning of protests – the Palestinian Action has been banned in the UK, any statement against Israel leads to arrest and…”

“The Three leaders – UK, Germany and France – have very low ratings and are expected to be ousted from power…”

“But then their challengers are being proscribed, the German and French far right…”

“So, what do you suggest? A meeting with his spiritual guide to assess how long this situation…”

“Shut up.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025