Partly Facetious: Unlearning knowledge

"I used to wonder how one can unlearn knowledge of some discipline one has painstakingly acquired."

"Where did that come from? I mean it doesn't make any sense."

"With respect to nuclear capability, doesn't the international community insist on a roll back for countries engaged in acquiring nuclear military capability?"

"Roll back is not unlearning technically but I see what you mean. But what brought that on! I mean it's not as if there is any pressure on us to roll back our nuclear programme and..."

"OK let me ask you another question? Can an economist, who may have taught in prestigious foreign universities, unlearn what he has learnt?"

"Taught what?"

"Well an economist is not likely to teach geography right?"

"In a hypothetical Land of the Gremlins that may be possible and..."

"What about in the Land of the Pure?"

"Now you are being facetious."

"No seriously I have seen it again and again in Pakistan where a qualified economist can quickly unlearn all that he has learnt if you install him as the Minister for Finance."

"Ha ha that's certainly true; and what about an accountant?"

"Well Accountant Dar never ever forgot accountancy though his knowledge of economics was poor."

"That's true."

"Anyway given the state of the economy and the policies of the two economic team leaders I think I am justified in saying there is an element of unlearning and the pace is outstanding...."

"Hey there is another one who was extremely competent when he was outside the government but once he was made a minister the number of mistakes he has already made has assumed legendary proportions."

"Well you have to narrow it down - I mean the competence of the fifty plus cabinet of Prime Minister Khan..."

"I meant the Law Minister - he was impressive as long as he was not in government, but sixteen months later the number of mistakes he has made is just too many..."

"You reckon he is competing with the economic team?"

"I aint saying nothing no more."